A leading Mackay builder of long standing Paul knows his market, its trends and projections for the future.

The median house price in Brisbane fell by 1.2% in the three months to the end of December, figures released by the Real Estate Institue in Queensland show.

Prices on the Sunshine Coast also went backwards by 1.1 per cent, while the Gold Coast recorded a modest 2.1% rise.

REIQ managing director Dan Molloy says it will be the second half of 2011 at least before there is any turnaround in the southeast.

A year on year increase in Brisbane prices disguised the fact “the market was moving sideways” for the second half of 2010 he said.

It’s a different picture in some regional centres, with Mackay leading the charge. Values in the north Queensland city rose 7 per cent between October and December and 5.8 per cent for the year.

“We’re expecting this year to be really big”, REIQ regional chairwoman Stacey Arlott said. The mines are going ahead and the year has started really strongly.

Researcher Terry Ryder of hotspotting.com.au said it was worth thinking about investing in these regional centres

How the regions performed:

Area Median price Dec quarter quarterly change

Brisbane $525,000 -1.2%

Gold Coast $490,000 +2.1%

Mackay $420,000 +7%

(For an extended version of this report refer to The Sunday Mail, February 20, 2011).

Police chase? Aerial invasion? Crop spraying?

No to all of these. No real mystery, the helicopters were involved in the production of television commercials designed to herald an exciting new dimension in the future of Blacks Beach Cove Estate.

With the desire for a point of difference, to stand out from the crowd, the team at Blacks Beach Cove secured the services of an award winning documentary maker to create a visual experience and give a taste of what Blacks Beach Cove has to offer.

No expense was spared either with the helicopter pilot expressing surprise when learning that the unique specialty camera used was more valuable than the chopper it was attached to.

The quantity of positive comment since gives testimony to the success of the exercise.

Helicopter passenger, Blacks Beach Cove director Colin Carter, expressed amazement at the recent rapid development of the Mackay area, in particular Northern Beaches. “It is amazing what you can see and the perspective given when looking down from above.”

The completed centre will provide the residents of the Northern Beaches with a choice of two supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles, about 30 specialty retail shops, a McDonalds drive-through restaurant, three commercial suites and 580 car spaces.

An intersection with traffic lights on Eimeo Road will also be built to access the expanded centre. Later, stages three and four will expand the centre by a further 35,000sqm and will include a Big W.

Stage two of the centre is planned to open for trade by mid-2011.

The shopping centre expansion is only the start of a phenomenal amount of growth planned for the area.

With more than 20,000 people expected to make the northern Beaches their home in the next 10 years, a primary school, high school, medical clinic, bus station and a new shopping precinct have all been planned by Mackay Regional Council for the growth.

Mackay Regional Council director of development services Peter Cardiff said the Northern Beaches had been classified as a primary growth area in the Mackay region, with another 5000-7000 dwellings expected to be built to accommodate the influx of residents.

“Council is now looking to improve public transport to the area with a bus station programmed to be included within the Northern Beaches centre. In time, express buses are planned to run between the expanded shopping centre, Mt Pleasant, the City Centre, Paget, the airport and CQU,” he said

Coben Constructions was awarded the prestigious” Presidents Award” for their Clancy 234 design whilst the same Design was awarded “Best Individual Home to $250,000”.

Relaxed Living Homes were honoured with the “Small Lot Housing up to 460m2” award, proving you can have style, class and size on a smaller piece of Land.

River City Homes staff were constantly on their feet receiving awards for “Display Home up to $250,000”, “Display Home $401,000 to $550,000”, “Individual Home $251,000 to $400,000” and “Individual Home $401,000 to $550,000.”

Blacks Beach Cove congratulate these Builder Partners and others which featured in the Awards.

Ms Jarrett would not commit to a time frame for development of the seven-hectare block, which fronts Blacks Beach Road and adjoins the Blacks Beach Cove Development.

However with the areas population tipped to climb from 25,000 to 37,000 in the next few years, the new school is expected to get off the ground in the near future.

Land development in the Northern Beaches is expected to see the number of school-age children in the area grow Ms Jarrett said.

A high School is set to open immediately south of the Northern Beaches Shopping Centre, approximately 4km from the new Primary School, in 2014

This association brings about a point of difference on the Estate with the allocation of five premium Lots allocated to the builder.

Each Lot backs onto natural parkland featuring picturesque lagoons, meaning the Lots will never be built out.

“these are possibly the best positioned lots on the Estate with the very best outlook,” said Sales manager Grant Roworth.

“they are also situated right next to a park with an enclosed childrens play area, gas BBQ’s and walkways.”

Featuring either one or two- storey homes each of which will be individually designed by local company Majestic Designs, to the owners requirements and will be built to take full advantage of the surrounding aspect.

Relaxed living Homes offer more natural light, unique internal and external features, and flow-through breezes thanks to their open floor plans.

“being a small pocket within the Estate and dedicated to one quality builder, buyers can be assured that the neighbouring homes will be compatible with their own,” added Grant

With two Lots already sold potential buyers are advised to contact Grant for further information on this unique opportunity.