Cedar Woods Properties has commenced construction on its new $105 million Sage community, delivering 329 lots in South-East Queensland’s rapidly expanding Moreton Bay region.
Civil contractor, Shadforth, has been appointed to construct the new community, which will be developed over the next five years and ultimately be home to about 800 residents.
Located on Hunt Road in Burpengary, Sage will span 29 hectares, with more than 30 per cent reserved for a retained and rehabilitated environmental corridor, which will connect to a broader 300 hectares of conservation land to its south.
The first stage of land, comprising 49 lots, is already 55 per cent sold and anticipated to be completed in mid-2023, paving the way for construction of the first homes to begin.
Sage is Cedar Woods’ second masterplanned land community in South-East Queensland, joining its award-winning Ellendale in Upper Kedron, which recently settled its 500th homesite and will ultimately feature 889 lots.
Ms Wooldridge said the start of construction marked a major milestone for Sage and the growth of the Moreton Bay region, which is anticipated to expand significantly over the next two decades.
“Demand for Sage has already been strong with $9 million in sales achieved ahead of the start of construction,” she said.
“This new community is set to help address ongoing issues of limited supply and high demand for new land in the South-East and, in particular, this fast-growing region.
“We handpicked the site in Burpengary due to its growth potential and the convenience it offers residents, with accessibility to both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, as well as regional centres and employment hubs like Caboolture and Maroochydore.
“With construction now underway, we’re looking forward to our vision for Sage taking shape.”
Mayor Peter Flannery said the new community was the kind of environmentally-conscious development needed to cater for Moreton Bay’s booming population.
“By 2040 we’re expecting to surpass 700,000 residents, that’s nearly a 50 per cent increase on our current population,” he said.
“More importantly than the 329 new homesites Sage will add to our region, the community will offer a diversity of housing choice that specifically appeals to first home buyers and families.
“But the most exciting thing about this project in my opinion is the commitment to constructing a community that’s centred around lifestyle and environmental values.
“This is exactly what Council wanted to see when we said we will ‘Go Green As We Grow’. This development demonstrates that it’s entirely possible to construct new homes for people and at the same time create homes for our local wildlife.
“Well designed communities like this are key to getting the balance right between catering for population growth and protecting our lifestyle and environment, especially if we are to protect 75 per cent of Moreton Bay’s landmass as greenspace, as I announced at the inaugural ‘State of the Region’ earlier this month.”
Ms Wooldridge said Sage’s focus on preserving and enhancing the environment would transform what was 14 individual residential properties – previously home to a nursery and hobby macadamia farm, among others – into a vibrant neighbourhood surrounded by greenery.
“The community has been designed for those wanting to own and occupy, with every detail carefully considered, including the significant focus on green open space with a central parkland and playground to become the active and social centre for the community,” she said.
“More than a third of the land will be reserved for green open space, including a seven-hectare environmental corridor through the centre of the site, which upon completion will be handed to Moreton Bay Regional Council as public space.
“We will be undertaking an extensive replanting and rehabilitation program to establish the environmental corridor, including providing more than 200 nesting boxes to encourage wildlife movement.
“Our 8,100sqm recreation park will be designed around preserving established trees, so the community harmonises with the environment.
“Overall, we are investing more than $1 million in environmental outcomes as part of the development of Sage, which is a wonderful result for native wildlife, our future residents and the broader community.”
Ms Wooldridge said Sage would follow the successful environmental blueprint established by Cedar Woods at its Ellendale community in Upper Kedron, which features 91 hectares of nature corridors and recreation space next to the South D’Aguilar National Park.
She said Sage would also deliver $5 million in infrastructure improvements, with 75 per cent of external works due to be completed before the first residents moved into the community. The works include significant upgrades to Hunt Road to improve efficiency and safety, as well as a widened verge and four metre native vegetation buffer alongside the new community.
