Trinity Point expansion approved after five-year wait
The $665-million expansion of the Trinity Point precinct at Lake Macquarie has been sold as "Australia's leading waterfront destination" and Lake Macquarie's answer to the Sydney Opera House, but has been mired in planning red tape for the past five years.
Johnson Property Group founder Kieth Johnson, who has held the site for 25 years, said it was a relief to see approvals finally secured after a years-long wait that left investors in uncertainty.
"We have had investors and potential joint venture partners wanting to talk to us, but we couldn't do a thing," Mr Johnson said. "We had nothing to guarantee until (Friday, August 1)."
"Unfortunately NSW is the slowest state in Australia to get approvals."
The luxury waterfront project will bring a resort experience to the shores of Lake Macquarie, complete with a cutting-edge wellness centre and two world-class restaurants, as well as 160 waterfront apartments, conference facilities, and commercial and public space in a sprawling precinct designed by boundary-pushing architect firm Koichi Takada.
Mr Johnson, who is the same developer behind Lake Macquarie's Watagan Park project, said the project was aimed at city-siders looking to escape to the regions in the post-COVID era, adding that designs had reduced the number of apartments but increased their size to cater to changing market tastes.
"People want to move to the country. They want to move, but they want bigger units," he said. "It's a really luxurious lifestyle."
He now hopes that, with development approvals secured, the project will move to detail designs and ultimately to tender within the next year. He estimated it would be a three-year build after that.
"This project is about putting Lake Macquarie on the global stage," Mr Johnson said. "We're not just building something beautiful we're creating a destination that will showcase the best of this region to the world and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."
An earlier planning document indicated the project would create 398 jobs and some $15.8 million in salaries.
The largest development project outside of Sydney is one step closer to being built after a protected development application - five years in consideration - was approved on Friday.
The $665-million expansion of the Trinity Point precinct at Lake Macquarie has been sold as "Australia's leading waterfront destination" and Lake Macquarie's answer to the Sydney Opera House, but has been mired in planning red tape for the past five years.
Johnson Property Group founder Kieth Johnson, who has held the site for 25 years, said it was a relief to see approvals finally secured after a years-long wait that left investors in uncertainty.
"We have had investors and potential joint venture partners wanting to talk to us, but we couldn't do a thing," Mr Johnson said. "We had nothing to guarantee until (Friday, August 1)."
"Unfortunately NSW is the slowest state in Australia to get approvals."
The luxury waterfront project will bring a resort experience to the shores of Lake Macquarie, complete with a cutting-edge wellness centre and two world-class restaurants, as well as 160 waterfront apartments, conference facilities, and commercial and public space in a sprawling precinct designed by boundary-pushing architect firm Koichi Takada.
Mr Johnson, who is the same developer behind Lake Macquarie's Watagan Park project, said the project was aimed at city-siders looking to escape to the regions in the post-COVID era, adding that designs had reduced the number of apartments but increased their size to cater to changing market tastes.
"People want to move to the country. They want to move, but they want bigger units," he said. "It's a really luxurious lifestyle."
He now hopes that, with development approvals secured, the project will move to detail designs and ultimately to tender within the next year. He estimated it would be a three-year build after that.
"This project is about putting Lake Macquarie on the global stage," Mr Johnson said. "We're not just building something beautiful we're creating a destination that will showcase the best of this region to the world and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."
An earlier planning document indicated the project would create 398 jobs and some $15.8 million in salaries.
The largest development project outside of Sydney is one step closer to being built after a protected development application - five years in consideration - was approved on Friday.
The $665-million expansion of the Trinity Point precinct at Lake Macquarie has been sold as "Australia's leading waterfront destination" and Lake Macquarie's answer to the Sydney Opera House, but has been mired in planning red tape for the past five years.
Johnson Property Group founder Kieth Johnson, who has held the site for 25 years, said it was a relief to see approvals finally secured after a years-long wait that left investors in uncertainty.
"We have had investors and potential joint venture partners wanting to talk to us, but we couldn't do a thing," Mr Johnson said. "We had nothing to guarantee until (Friday, August 1)."
"Unfortunately NSW is the slowest state in Australia to get approvals."
The luxury waterfront project will bring a resort experience to the shores of Lake Macquarie, complete with a cutting-edge wellness centre and two world-class restaurants, as well as 160 waterfront apartments, conference facilities, and commercial and public space in a sprawling precinct designed by boundary-pushing architect firm Koichi Takada.
Mr Johnson, who is the same developer behind Lake Macquarie's Watagan Park project, said the project was aimed at city-siders looking to escape to the regions in the post-COVID era, adding that designs had reduced the number of apartments but increased their size to cater to changing market tastes.
"People want to move to the country. They want to move, but they want bigger units," he said. "It's a really luxurious lifestyle."
He now hopes that, with development approvals secured, the project will move to detail designs and ultimately to tender within the next year. He estimated it would be a three-year build after that.
"This project is about putting Lake Macquarie on the global stage," Mr Johnson said. "We're not just building something beautiful we're creating a destination that will showcase the best of this region to the world and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."
An earlier planning document indicated the project would create 398 jobs and some $15.8 million in salaries.
The largest development project outside of Sydney is one step closer to being built after a protected development application - five years in consideration - was approved on Friday.
The $665-million expansion of the Trinity Point precinct at Lake Macquarie has been sold as "Australia's leading waterfront destination" and Lake Macquarie's answer to the Sydney Opera House, but has been mired in planning red tape for the past five years.
Johnson Property Group founder Kieth Johnson, who has held the site for 25 years, said it was a relief to see approvals finally secured after a years-long wait that left investors in uncertainty.
"We have had investors and potential joint venture partners wanting to talk to us, but we couldn't do a thing," Mr Johnson said. "We had nothing to guarantee until (Friday, August 1)."
"Unfortunately NSW is the slowest state in Australia to get approvals."
The luxury waterfront project will bring a resort experience to the shores of Lake Macquarie, complete with a cutting-edge wellness centre and two world-class restaurants, as well as 160 waterfront apartments, conference facilities, and commercial and public space in a sprawling precinct designed by boundary-pushing architect firm Koichi Takada.
Mr Johnson, who is the same developer behind Lake Macquarie's Watagan Park project, said the project was aimed at city-siders looking to escape to the regions in the post-COVID era, adding that designs had reduced the number of apartments but increased their size to cater to changing market tastes.
"People want to move to the country. They want to move, but they want bigger units," he said. "It's a really luxurious lifestyle."
He now hopes that, with development approvals secured, the project will move to detail designs and ultimately to tender within the next year. He estimated it would be a three-year build after that.
"This project is about putting Lake Macquarie on the global stage," Mr Johnson said. "We're not just building something beautiful we're creating a destination that will showcase the best of this region to the world and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come."
An earlier planning document indicated the project would create 398 jobs and some $15.8 million in salaries.
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