Mana Ballina: $11m development of low-maintenance, modern villas hits the market

After the successful completion of a Mediterranean-style development in Byron Bay, the same team has come together to offer Ballina something not seen before. See the pictures.

Mana Ballina artists impression from Omira Property Group.

A swanky new development given the green light for Ballina is part of a new trend of low maintenance properties built within walking distance to essential services.

Omira Property Group’s latest project, Mana Ballina, is another modern development on the North Coast aimed at making life easy and enjoyable.

Omira Property Group director Alasdair Baker said the aim of the 14-villa development, valued at $11m, was around creating something beautiful.

Omira Property Group's latest project currently being built on Norton and Camden streets.

Mr Baker assigned his award-winning team of architects, interior designers and landscape designers from their 2023 project Asana – three Mediterranean-inspired stand-alone homes in Byron Bay – to create a home to “live and love living in”.

“We think [Mana Ballina] is one of the best amalgamated three sites for medium density in Ballina,” Mr Baker said.

Backing on to North Creek, Mr Baker said the project had quite a “unique” offering.

“There is nothing of this calibre in Ballina and we wanted to bring something that hadn’t been done before,” he said.

“Byron Bay has been a longstanding dream sea-change destination but it’s prohibitively expensive in terms of property prices and for me, Ballina has got so much more to offer in terms of lifestyle, endless outdoor activities, amenity and accessibility.

“It seems like the sleeping giant of opportunity.”

The units are selling off the plan.

Town planning lead on the Mana Ballina development Dwayne Roberts said there was a lot of pressure for “urban infill”.

“I see this trend continuing throughout Ballina island and eventually West Ballina, as a natural progression as people become more comfortable with a denser urban environment,” Mr Roberts said.

The 14 unit, two storey complex located between Norton and Camden streets will involve the demolition of a squash court, swimming pool, three houses and a number of trees, to make way for the L-shaped, gated project.

Artists impressions of the development.

Mr Roberts said an opportunity arose to purchase the property which led to the development of Mana Ballina with Mr Baker.

“We had our property size and constraints, and we started developing around that to come up with a design,” Mr Roberts said.

“We then sat down with council in the pre-DA format and made some changes to satisfy their concerns and then progressed through the development application process.”

Omira Property Group's latest project.

The interiors of Mana’s villas have been designed by award-winning interior designer Mon Palmer with each villa featuring high-end finishes, including Taj Mahal stone tops, oak timber flooring, and built-in fireplaces.

However some concerned neighbours have raised issues over increased traffic, noise, and flood-risk.

Mr Roberts told The Daily Telegraph during the February and March 2022 floods, the site did not have issues with flooding.

Units start $1.95m for a three bedroom villa.

“There wasn’t actually any water even on the roads over there let alone on the land,” he said.

With a minimal fill requirement of 3-400mm, along with brand new upgraded stormwater and drainage, Mr Roberts said he was “pretty comfortable” everyone will have an improved stormwater outcome post-development.

Low-maintenance villas are becoming a trend across Ballina.

Prices start at $1.95m for a three bedroom villa with a study, 2.5 bathrooms, two car parks and 203sq m of internal floorspace.

Other units range from $2.1-2.4 million with internal floor spaces between 227-251sq m.

The project is set for completion in 2025.