McCathies Real Estate management and staff extend to you and your family our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The annoucement last week fron the Queensland Government confirming plans for more terminals at Abbot Point has the potential to impact the Burdekin. As stated these developments could be worth an investment of $9 billion and deliver tens of thousands of jobs. The Premier commented, it will increase the exprot capacity of the port to almost 400 million tonnes per annum, making it on the largest coal export facilities in the world. This certainly would make 2012 an exciting year. From our point of view we are ideally located just 40 minutes drive North of Abbot Point. Housing affordability in the Burdekin will be a strong driver for investors an owner occupiers. We will be watching this progress very closely.
The lifestyle of the Burdekin is our best kept secret. We have a population in excess of 18,000 and we are spoilt when it comes to recreational, sporting and cultural activities. Our main recreational activitiy is fishing, creek or reef. The Yongala Dive is recognised world wide and it is situated just 20 minutes off the coast of Alva Beach. We have excellent boat landings which include an all access landing at Molongle Creek. On the sporting field you can be involved in Football, Soccer, Touch Football, Tennis, Golf, Lawn Bowls, Ten Pin Bowling, Cricket, Swimming, Life Savers, Horse Racing plus many more. Our culture activities include dance of all styles, a variety of music schools teaching all instruments, speech and drama. To support our cultural activities we have the Burdekin Theatre, a 500 seat theatre as good as any city. We have 2 State High Schools, 9 State Primary Schools, 1 Catholic High School,2 Catholic Primary Schools and 1 Primary Christian College. The CBD's of Ayr and Home Hill provide excellent shopping and we have all the major banks and commerical activities required to conduct business at any level. We have modern hospital facilities supported by a range of medical practitioners. Situated just 1 hour drive to Townsville means we have access to a major airport and specialist medical facilities. Our Real Estate is affordable and investors receive better than city returns on rental properties. If you take the time to visit the Burdekin you will experience for yourself the friendly community atmosphere that we have to offer.
An update from Conquest Mining, Mt Carlton Project. Andrew Yeatman, Community Relations Manager for Conquest Mining came to the Burdekin on the 4th August to update the community about the progress at the mine. They are up to engineering of the site and access roads stage with the tendering process to commence in the next few weeks. The news was very positively received by about 70 interested individuals and business persons. There are a lot of opportunities for the Burdekin. Andrew commented that our Real Estate is very cheap and rentals are more than affordable for an area where a mine is about to commence operations. He said that usually prices start to climb when the mention of mining is heard. With the amount of properties that we currently have listed I would think that there are some excellent opportunites for investment in our region. He also commented on our lifestyle and said once word got our about our fishing and other recreational facilities we would be a hot spot.
For more information abour Conquest Mining and employment opportunities look up their web site www.conquestmining.com.au or email careers@conquestmining.com.au
This is extremely exciting news.
With the proposed expansion of Abbot Point to include an additional 4 coal terminals along with the Conquest Mine currently under construction south of Home Hill, the Burdekin is experiencing some new interest from companies looking to build new house and land packages. This expansions will mean flow on jobs for our region as well as opportunities for our Engineering firms to be a part of this exciting development. We are fortunate to have adequate stock of vacant land as well as homes priced from $159,000 in all areas of the Burdekin. Although the market is still fairly slow we know that it is time for the Burdekin to boom. Where else can you get all of the facilities that are available in our town along with a relaxed and friendly lifestyle, in abundance of water and a growing city just an hour away.
June is upon us and tax time is around the corner. It is important to check and make sure you are claiming maximum deductions for your rental property. Make sure you are claiming every possible cent of depreciation allowances. Remember to advise your tax agent if you have made any improvements to your rental proeprty. Your are able to claim design and professional fees, council fees, demoliture costs , site clearing and landscaping to name a few. A deprecial schedule for your rental property could save you substantial money.
By now you will have received your new land valuation. With such a major change in the method used by the Department of Enviroment and Resource Management fro unimproved values to site valuations, we have seen increases from 170% to 440%. This will make it difficlut for Local Governments to set their general rates without incurring massive increases.