On Friday the 2 November, the biggest names in Queensland property gathered for the annual UDIA Awards for Excellence Luncheon. While we’ve already discussed the myriad of different awards new and off-the-plan project can vie for, it’s the UDIA awards that really represent the creme-de-la-creme. Waiting with bated breath for the winners to be announced was over 750 industry experts and property developers, all celebrating what the Sunshine State has to offer.
To be nominated for a UDIA Excellence Award is no easy feat, let alone to take home the trophy for your category. As well as an intense expression of interest and submissions process, each nominated project has undergone a full site inspection and presentation to an independent judging panel. With 19 different awards up for grabs across all categories, the winners of the Qld UDIA Excellence Awards really do represent a great subsection of the best in the biz when it comes to new developments.
President’s Award & Master Planned Development: Parklands Project, Grocon
With 1,252 residences over 7 hectares of space, the Parklands Project is one of the most significant and large-scale developments ever undertaken on the Gold Coast. Located just 5km from Surfers Paradise and 3km from Southport, the Parklands Project was transformed into the Commonwealth Games Village earlier this year. The residential portion of the master-planned development is now being finalised, with one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom townhouses set to become available to the public in early 2019. This is one of Queensland’s first built-to-rent communities, providing access to excellent amenities at an affordable price.
CEO’s Award: Walton Stores, Aspect Architects & Project Managers
Completely transforming Toowoomba’s CBD, Walton Stores is a retail, dining and commercial project. From laneway dining, fresh food and convenience shopping as well as unique modern office spaces, Walton Stores has given Toowoomba an unprecedented boost.
Walters Stores Toowoomba
Residential Subdivision: North Harbour, North East Business Park
Located on the north side of Brisbane, North Harbour offers house and land packages centred around parks and green spaces. Check out our full review of North Harbour to find out what makes this project so special.
Affordable Housing: Kurrajong Townhouses, Churches of Christ in Queensland
The Churches of Christ in Queensland are tackling the issues of housing affordability head-on. For low-income households, the undersupply and over demand for social housing means families are at risk of homelessness while they wait for social housing to become available. Kurrajong Townhouses are an initiative managed by the Churches of Christ Housing Services, which fills a gap between social housing and the private rental market. This development in Kallangur provides 91 residents a place to live, with many moving from unaffordable homes. This was made possible by the generous donation of land by Ian and Neva Handy.
Kurrajong Townhouses
Urban Renewal: Lucent Gasworks, Cavcorp
Providing a health and wellness focused apartment complex, Lucent has transformed the inner-city suburb of Newstead. With the second tower in the project (Luminare) currently under construction, now’s the time to read our full review of the project.
Lucent Newstead
Seniors Living: Halcyon Lakeside, Halcyon
It’s not just the UDIA that appreciate Halcyon Lakeside. We chatted to Maggie and Nev Storey, residents of this retirement village to find out how they found the downsizing process, and what it’s like to live there.
Halycon Lakes
Medium Density Development: Arc on Lima, Mosaic Property Group
With 15 apartments in Auchenflower, Arc on Lima is a project by Mosaic Property Group. Completed in March of 2017, this project is sold out completely.
Arc on Lima
High-Density Development: Oxley + Stirling Residences, ARIA Property Group
ARIA Property Group are no strangers to UDIA awards with another one of their South Brisbane developments, The Melbourne, taking out the top spot in 2017. Oxley + Stirling is a dual-tower project with stunning rooftop recreational space. With their next South Brisbane project, The Standard, currently underway, we’re keeping our eyes on ARIA Property Group for next year’s UDIA awards already.
Oxley + Stirling by Aria Property Group
Environmental Excellence: Minnippi, Urbex
Minnippi in Cannon Hill takes the phrase “home among the gum trees” to a whole new level. This house and land development by Urbex is surrounded by over 90 hectares of open space, parkland, golf course and environmental habitat with each homesite offering generous proportions.
Community Engagement Excellence: Plan Your Brisbane, Brisbane City Council
Brisbane City Council’s Plan Your Brisbane initiative ran until June 2018 and was developed in conjunction with the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which requires Brisbane to facilitate approximately 188,000 more dwellings by 2041. These engagement sessions helped Council piece together what the people of Brisbane would like to see for the future of the city, from innovative housing options to leisure facilities and transport.
Plan Your Brisbane
Design Excellence: Avalon, Mosaic Property Group
Perched on the banks of the Maroochy River, Avalon is bringing a new level of luxury to the Sunshine Coast. With two towers and a myriad of luxury finishes, this project is definitely one to watch. Look out for our feature on Avalon in the summer edition of our magazine out in January 2019.
Affordable Small Scale Development: Baringa Urban Village, Stockland
A small part of the Aura master-planned development near Pumistone Passage, Baringa Urban Village provides affordable house and land packages. Aura is Australia’s largest ever master-planned community under single ownership and will become the first new city in Australia to be designed and constructed to the world’s highest environmental and sustainability standards. The development at Baringa will remain fairly separate from the rest of the Aura development, which will be completed over the next 30 years.
Baringa Urban Village Stockland
Premium Small Scale Development: The Lakes Residences North Peninsula, Sunland
The Lakes Residence North Peninsular offers a collection of lakefront and park front residences in Mermaid Waters. With luxury finishes throughout, these townhouses are now completely sold out. Sunland’s latest townhouse project, The Hills, is still for sale in Everton Park.
The Lakes Residences
Residential Care: Dovetree, Wesley Mission Queensland
Located in Sinnamon Park, Dovetree is the latest aged care facility by Wesley Mission Queensland. Each of the 144 residents will have access to the on-site cinema, library, communal kitchens and private function rooms as well as a hair salon, day therapy centre, club lounge and cafe.
Dovetree
Retail, Commercial, Public Use: 900 Ann Street, Consolidated Properties Group
Completed this year, 900 Ann Street features 18,991m² of premium office space. The ground floor offers an expansive foyer and the building has a 5 star Green Star Office Design rating.
900 Ann Street
Marketing Excellence: Drift, Mosaic Property Group
Drift by Mosiac is another of Mosaic Property Group’s Sunshine Coast projects. Located in Coolum Beach, this project features 56 one, two and three bedroom apartments with three sub penthouse and four penthouses.
Consultants’ Excellence: Parklands Project, Cardno/AAA
Carno and AAA (Arkhenfield, ARM and Archipelago) were the consultants on the Parklands Project, who won the Presidents Award.
Parklands Project
Wildcard Award: Sustainability through innovation and scientific solutions, Rock Trade Industries
Rock Trade Industries are leaders in the manufacture, production and supply of sandstone, aggregate stone, road base and premium sand. They are the only mining and extraction company to work with UDIA in development of an EnviroDevelopment rating certification method.
Rock Trade Industries
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