Construction will commence on the long-awaited Kyabram Greens estate in two weeks and flamboyant developer Gary Evans has not let the opportunity pass without attaching a fittingly grandiose comment to its delivery — describing the estate as his “Mona Lisa”.
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He said among the first homes to be built on the site that adjoined Kyabram Parkland Golf Club would be a 50-square home, one of seven homes in the stage that would have direct access to the golf course.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime project. I expect it to be the best project I have been involved with — my Mona Lisa,” he said.
Mr Evans, who is developing the land which has McEwen Rd, South Boundary Rd and the par-three golf course as three of its boundaries, said construction work on the first stage of the 210-lot development had been held up by approvals.
“I am frustrated as everyone that it hasn’t happened as quickly as we wanted, but (Campaspe Shire) council is under a lot of pressure,” he said.
“There has been an extraordinary surge in planning applications that no-one could have seen coming.”
The Kyabram Greens site is among seven being developed simultaneously in the town, with stages one to five of The Edge, Blue Gum Fields, stage two of the Sunrise Estate development, Lakeside Estate, Bellthorpe Park and Orchardfield Estate all at different stages of construction.
Mr Evans’ development captured the attention of the region when he used high-profile figure Sam Kekovich, of Australian ‘Lambassador’ and North Melbourne VFL premiership fame, to launch Kyabram Greens.
An extensive advertising campaign involving the witty and humorous Kekovich has been on the screens, airwaves and print mediums of the region for the past 12 months.
And finally there will be signs of action when the fence is built on the site to allow for construction work to commence by the end of July.
And, in true Gary Evans style, he will not let the moment pass without due recognition. He is organising a launch that will feature a smoking ceremony and will also have a second advertisement attached — again featuring the much-loved Kekovich.
“We will start filming the adverts on the same day,” he said.
Mr Evans was also able to release the pricing, with all 1100 sq m square blocks being offered at a price of $210,000.
“That price is for any block in stages one, two and three that is 1100 sq m,” he said, explaining there would be larger blocks (such as the 1500 sq m block that the 50 sq m golf frontage home was being built on) in the eight stages, but his aim was to keep land price down.
“There are same caveats on the fencing and houses that will cost people a little more, so I want to offer land that allows them to spend more on their homes,” he said.
Mr Evans said there would also be a medium density housing project attached to the project on the remaining 20 acres that had not been allocated to the 210-lot estate.
“That part of the project will be townhouses or some sort of lifestyle village,” he said, all with an accessibility point to the golf course.
Mr Evans is continuing his sponsorship of the Parkland club, backing another event being organised by high-profile Kyabramites Tom Curnow and Greg Ryan.
“I am committed to giving the golf club $300,000 as part of their renovation and I am in Kyabram once a month catching up with them,” he said.
Mr Evans has also maintained his commitment to paying the Kyabram Parkland golf membership of anyone over the age of 80.
“I get an invoice once a year,” he said.
Mr Evans is working on eight other country Victorian housing estates at the same time as the Kyabram development, but described Kyabram Greens as unique.
“I’ve positioned this estate as a premium project from the start,” he said.
Those people wanting to access the remaining golf club-adjoining blocks will have to wait, with the remaining 20-plus blocks that back on to the course not being available for 12 to 24 months.