Hedley back in saddle

Developer on track with plenty of projects

TOM Hedley is back on a winning streak with new subdivisions, a major townhouse development and a hands-on bar overhaul all under way.

The former high-flying pub baron has put his money to use since landing a $20 million deal from the State Government to fill a quarry with mud from the Cairns Shipping Development dredging project.

He is about to launch a major construction project within a stone’s throw of his favourite pub, the Red Beret Hotel in Redlynch, with 16 mini-lot townhouses going in at 419-421 Kamerunga Rd.

Cairns Regional Council has approved the project, which features lot sizes ranging from 238sq m to 401sq m.

Mr Hedley said increasing the population density around pubs he owned was a tried and true development technique he had used across the nation.

More people means more punters and land sales equal beer sales.

“I’ve been doing that all my life, trying to find land around my pubs,” he said.

Little lots are not everyone’s cup of tea but Mr Hedley said sales proved there was a market – especially for freehold titles without the costs and headache of body corporates.

“I sold one the other day at Tenni St to a 93-year-old man and his wife from Sydney,” he said.

Townhouses will be sold off the plan from September, with construction to begin as soon as possible to capitalise on the HomeBuilder scheme.

Mr Hedley was at the centre of controversy in Goldsborough last year with residents suggesting he was trying to build a pub by stealth.

He laughed off the claims at the time, which stemmed from an approval he received to build a convenience store in a sleepy hamlet with no shops.

The allegations left a sour taste and he decided to offload the land, which now has a house being built on it.

“I just said bugger it and I sold the lot,” he said.

Goldsborough is a growth area, and Mr Hedley has already sold out one subdivision and is moving ahead with another 81-lot residential project.

“We’re working through that at the moment to get approvals,” he said. “It’s going to be a pretty big job over three years.”