Bargara Headlands Estate wins regional project of the year at industry awards

A Bundaberg developer beat out a competitive field at prestigious industry awards to claim a prize which it did not expect to be in the running for.

A Bundaberg developer beat out a competitive field at prestigious industry awards, with its Bargara residential development named best regional project of the year.

Bargara Headlands Estate was recognised as the best project in regional Queensland at prestigious urban development industry awards held in Brisbane on Friday.

The project by Moorhead Family Communities Bundaberg was awarded the Regional Project of the Year by the Urban Development Industry Australia Queensland awards, held at Brisbane Town Hall.

The award recognises excellence in developments located outside of South East Queensland local government areas, with Bargara Headlands Estate beating out a field including Edenbrook Land in Rockhampton and Russell Street Refresh by Toowoomba Regional Council.

Manager Sales and Marketing at Moorhead Family Communities Bundaberg Grant Davies received the award from UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown at the UDIA QLD Awards for Excellence 2023 at Brisbane City Hall on November 3. Photo: Jon W / Event Photos Australia

UDIA Queensland CEO Kirsty Chessher-Brown said Bargara Headlands Estate was “the benchmark for regional residential communities in Queensland”, citing the Bundaberg developer’s close engagement with community groups including First Nations people and Bundaberg Landcare.

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“The developer’s commitment to community engagement, high quality urban design outcomes, and environmental restoration are significant and unwavering,” Ms Chessher-Brown said.

“Bargara Headlands Estate is an outstanding example of real community engagement and collaboration.”

Manager Sales and Marketing at Moorhead Family Communities Bundaberg Grant Davies said the Regional Project of the Year award was unexpected as their submission was for the environmental excellence award, which they missed out on earlier in the evening.

“It’s quite prestigious, and there are some decent projects in the regions, but we took it out so it was really good,” Mr Davies said.

Mr Davies said the award was recognition of lead developer Bill Moorehead’s local roots and dedication to the Bundaberg community in delivering an urban development that goes beyond the “box-ticking” approach he said is often taken by out of town developers.

Mr Davies said the award was recognition of lead developer Bill Moorehead’s (pictured) local roots and dedication to the Bundaberg community.

“I guess the point of difference is that a lot of developers are just out there just to tick a box and get on to the next thing, (whereas Mr Moorehead) is very engaged in the project,” Mr Davies said.

“He’s very hands on, and very engaged in the project; this project is the culmination of his development career.”

An avid bird watcher, Mr Moorehead restored a wetlands habitat on the estate which serves the dual role of purifying storm water flowing into the ocean, and forming a haven for migratory birds which have begun to pass through the estate.

An avid bird-watcher, developer Bill Moorehead restored a wetlands habitat on the estate which serves the dual role of purifying storm water flowing into the ocean and forming a haven for migratory birds.

The Bargara Headlands development has also sacrificed some prime oceanfront land to retain public access to the coastline along the headland, a popular place for whale watching.

“That’s where your money is, in those blocks that are right on the waterfront, but what it means is that nobody gets to actually enjoy the waterfront except on people that have bought those blocks,” Mr Davies said.

“So (we have) cut off 100m or so of that frontage and given that to the community through basically giving it to council for $1.”

The developers consulted closely with the Taribelang Bunda mob, which led to the construction of a yarning circle on the site including traditional artwork by local artist Paul Perry.

Mr Moorehead also consulted with the traditional owners of the headland, the Taribelang Bunda mob, with a NAIDOC event hosted on the headlands leading to a yarning circle being built on the site including traditional artwork by local artist Paul Perry.

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With the first five stages of the project having been developed and sold, Mr Davies said they have recently begun registrations for a new stage which at 61 blocks is twice the size of stages built by most developers.

Another 20-block stage is on track for completion by the middle of 2024, followed by the final stage to be built near Whale Rock lookout.

Originally published as Bargara Headlands Estate wins regional project of the year at industry awards