Providence Ripley Puts Faith In Community Infrastructure

Family-owned developer Amex Corporation is reviving the old school development art of community building at its landmark Providence development at South Ripley in South East Queensland.

The company recently unveiled $7 million of new facilities designed to foster a genuine sense of community despite the relatively early stage of development of the project. The new facilities include a Community Centre, licensed café, water park and adventure playground.

The$3.2 million Splash ‘n’ Play Water Park is one of only three in Queensland.

The company has also appointed a full-time Community Development Officer to help drive community spirit. The Officer will be responsible for engaging with residents to help build  "a community with true neighbourhood values based on care and friendship".

While just over 120 families call Providence home at the moment, on completion the new masterplanned community is expected to house up to  17,000 people.  A full array of community facilities to support these residents including a health hub, all surround a town centre which will be a complete residential/commercial/retail/civic mixed use zone.

National property group Oliver Hume has been appointed as sales and marketing agency for the $1 billion development. 

Oliver Hume joint Managing Director for Queensland Brinton Keath said community infrastructure  was an important tool for attracting buyers.

“These types of community facilities are a strong selling point in a highly competitive market,” he said. “Buyers can generally tell the difference between a developer selling a community ideal and a developer building a community. Amex’s investment at Providence falls squarely in the latter and the recent sales are a testament to their foresight.”

Throughout the long planning process Amex has been committed to ensuring Providence was not just another suburban development, but a progressive, vibrant and modern new town that brings back true neighbourhood living. Over the next 20 years Providence will be constructed across 670 hectares, approximately three times the size of Brisbane’s CBD land mass and will be the largest single development in the Ripley Valley.

Amex Corporation is an Australian family-owned residential development company that has been operating in Queensland for 28 years, and has delivered 14 communities across Australia.

Amex Corporation's Michael Khan said the new masterplanned community was thriving with over 120 families now calling Providence home, 180 new homes under construction, 550 lots sold and a strong sense of community already established.

“Our investment of $7 million into community facilities and commitment to make Providence the most desirable community to live is what draws people in from far and wide,” Mr Khan said.

“The opening of the state-of-the-art Providence Sales and Community Centre and the licensed café, Forty West marks a new milestone in Providence’s future as an attractive, family-centred community where entertainment is just a short walk away.

“Splash’n’Play Water Park opened to the public a few weeks ago and is already so popular that it is buzzing with families 7 days a week. These are the types of facilities families seek out when buying their dream home,” he said.

National property group Oliver Hume has been appointed as sales and marketing agency for the $1 billion development. 

Oliver Hume joint Managing Director for Queensland Brinton Keath said community infrastructure  was an important tool for attracting buyers.

“These types of community facilities are a strong selling point in a highly competitive market,” he said. “Buyers can generally tell the difference between a developer selling a community ideal and a developer building a community. Amex’s investment at Providence falls squarely in the latter and the recent sales are a testament to their foresight.”

Mr Kahn said the Providence Sales and Community Centre would offer a unique digital experience that is the first of its kind in Australia for a masterplanned community sales office.

"Visitors can explore all corners of Providence using the giant interactive touch screen and watch one of the 7 video screens around the room to experience the community like never before.

"Parents can sit at the kiosk bench and search for their ideal home with personal touch screens - all updated live - and send their favourites to email. All the while the kids can enjoy the iPads and special activities in the kids' area.

"The theatrette will screen movies featuring 'a day in the life of Providence' filmed by the residents themselves on a giant 6m screen. This will provide an authentic insight into life in the new community through the eyes of the residents," Mr Khan said.

“What’s great about the Providence Sales and Community Centre is that the community can use the space completely free of charge, the first facility of its kind in a masterplanned community in South East Queensland to offer such a great benefit,” Mr Khan said.

“We are currently liaising with Ipswich City Council and other local community groups to schedule future community events and use of the space,” he said.