REVEALED: 194 flag interest in Gladstone region $30m resort

THE time it takes to build the 57 homes at Rules Beach Resort depends on the how quickly David Hughes can sell the home packages

THE time it takes to build the 57 homes at Rules Beach Resort depends on the how quickly David Hughes can sell the home packages and according to him there are a lot of interested people.

When The Observer published a story in June on the proposed $30 million beach side resort, two hours' drive south of Gladstone, Mr Hughes was "bombarded" with information requests.

At the time the resort didn't have a Facebook site and had a simple website.

"We weren't ready to go to market then but we quickly made a website and since then we have had 950 likes on Facebook," he said.

"At the last count we have had 194 people request an information pack and that number grows by two or three a day."

Artist impression of homes

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He said the official launch of the sales campaign would start on September 3 and he expected Agnes Water excavation company Cross Earthmoving to start pushing dirt next week.

"Employ local companies is a very deliberate approach owner John Callanan has developed a lot in regional areas and always chooses to support the local population," he said.

"From local contractors to local tourism operators to run the resort once it has been built."

Plans for beachfront homes

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Mr Hughes said the plan was to emulate a typical 1950s coastal town.

"There's 1950s architecture but inside there is marble and polished concrete," he said.

The homes will be in different packages with the larger absolute beachfront homes costing $630,000 and the others $330,000.

"We think those people brave enough to buy in first should be the ones who benefit the most," he said.

"I believe it's fairly reasonable for an architect designed house that's fully furnished and by the beach."

EARLIER: 

THE construction of 57 beachfront homes near Baffle Creek will be done by Gladstone hands as builder G and D Lawrie Builders has won the contract.

Geordie Lawrie found out his company had won the contract on Monday afternoon.

"It has been a huge boost just to let suppliers know there is a steady stream of work coming," he said.

"We're all keen to make this work. We have all been sitting on our hands scratching around for a decent job and it has turned up at the right time."

Mr Lawrie said he  would use a Gladstone region workforce and suppliers.

"That's the beauty of us being local. You incorporate your relationships with suppliers and contractors," he said.

"The suppliers are very keen to make this happen."

Gladstone builders to build 57 beachfront homes.

He said during the past 25 to 30 years his family had owned property on the untouched beach.

"They are going to utilise the same trademark beach frontage and construction. What we're going to be doing will be sympathetic for the environment," he said.

The speed of the construction of the 57 homes will depend on how quickly they are sold.

But the plan is to have the final designs done by Christmas, with Mr Lawrie and his team to start building shortly after.

He said he expected the resort would open for business before Christmas 2017.

Originally published as REVEALED: 194 flag interest in Gladstone region $30m resort