We’re tops for growth

New Armstrong estate adds to record year

BUYERS of the first blocks in a new 659-lot Armstrong Creek housing estate could be building their homes by mid-2021 as developers prepare to break ground this week.

Contractors for the Harriott estate are preparing to start delivering the $100m project 10km south of Geelong, off Barwon Heads Road.

The milestone comes after a record year for land development and population growth in Geelong.

City of Greater Geelong chief executive Martin Cutter told an Urban Development Institute of Australia Geelong conference recently that a record 1500 house lots were created in the Armstrong Creek growth area last financial year.

“We are the fastest growing major regional centre in Australia — ahead of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast — and growing at a faster rate than all the other state capitals,” he said.

Mr Cutter said 57 per cent of the city’s new residents had left Melbourne or regional Victoria. “We’ve got a lot to offer and people outside Geelong are now starting to realise this,” he said.

Mr Cutter said Armstrong Creek’s population had reached 17,000, almost onethird of the 60,000 residents when it is completed.

“We’ve seen another record year for lot construction at

Armstrong Creek, with 1500 lots created in 2019-20, which is up from 1400 the previous year,” he said.

Harriott developer Jinding Developments appointed civil contractor Bitu-mill to construct stages one and two, which provide 81 blocks in the estate by mid-next year. The initial stages will include the first portion of a linear reserve that will eventually span the length of the community.

Jinding Australia has partnered with Yolk Property Group and the landowners, the Harkness family, to develop the 94ha site opposite Warralily Village shopping centre and the suburb’s education precinct.

Jinding managing director Liz Ronson said sales were strong in 2020.

“The appetite from the local community so far is a testament to the compelling urban design of Harriott, along with the fantastic amenity and natural environment which surround the development,” she said.

Lot pricing ranges from $180,000 to $314,000 for blocks from 221sq m to more than 550sq m.

It is the latest project to start construction in Armstrong Creek.

The Draper family is pressing ahead with construction on its 210-lot Yaringa project.

The first blocks will be available by the second quarter of 2021.