#Approved: Meridian - 11s/res (Mackay)

[Red Nut]

Meridian was approved by the MCC about 18 months ago. It's a cute little number, going up right behind the Crown Apartments and Leichardt on River developments on the corner of Brisbane & Victoria st. Enjoy y'all...

EDIT: Forgot to indicate in the thread title this is located in Mackay, might need to add that, apologies Oriolus

Renders from Website: www.meridianmackay.com.au







Not sure how sales have gone for this one, however a fence indicating 'construction in progress' was put up only recently, so I'm assuming she's about to shoot upwards... although developments in Mackay are travelling painfully slow at the moment.

[Gertzy]

Looks like its already under construction, very nice indeed.

[Red Nut]

Well I wish it was but technically it's not yet, still just a block of overgrown grass on the other side of that fence... fingers crossed there is a giant f"$* off-sized hold there soon.

[Red Nut]

I learnt today that this one is going ahead very soon. A sizeable chunk of the apartments have been sold off the plan, with the sale price for the remainder likely to increase a lot as construction begins. I'd imagine that construction would have to kick off before the end of March... then again I could have just been spoon-fed some marketing beat-up

Oriolus, if you read this do you mind indicating in the thread title that this one is located in Mackay please (keeping in line with all other construction threads). Thanks in advance.

[Gertzy]

Sounds Promising, but as you said, could be a market scam.

[polk]

noticed that block of land today when i was over at dunkfield gardens.....still looks the same as in your photo...

[Red Nut]

Ha ha yeah I'm not surprised at all. Have you noticed Polk if there's been any movement on the other River st developments near that end of town?

[polk]

nah nothing really....the few on river street have not changed....i might take some photos later in the week.........

[Burden]

around 30m hiegh? BTW Rednut with all your threads you make you have like a skyline picture in them how do you get that, Never seemed to be able to find them with other projects .

[Gertzy]

The because the developers for their projects actually bother to make a skyline render for the projects.

[Red Nut]

Latest news: Weeds and grass are about 50cm taller. If there was an emoticon for tumbelweed, I'd insert it here. Frustrating to see this as the developer claimed it'd be kicking off in March.

January 2008



July 2008

[Red Nut]

Latest movements on Meridian reported by the Daily Mercury in the 'CBD Developments' article published April 14:

Only one street over, Mr Chappell is also involved with Meridian, which hit hurdles of its own as the global downturn forced the builders to find new finance.

“Apparently that new finance has been put in place and developers will commence building in six to eight weeks,” he said.

Meridian was planned as an eight-storey building; however, Mr Chappell said there had been another development approval lodged with council to push it up to 10-storeys.

Long-term Mackay residents will know the Meridian site as the home of the old Cactus Jacks restaurant in Victoria Street.

Mr Chappell said while the real estate market had slowed from the boom times, it was still a very resilient region.

“Inquiry has lessened, but there's still a steady amount of them coming in.

“There's a lot of professionals, double income and no children, who don't want a lawn to mow. A high-rise in the city is perfect.”

[Red Nut]

Meridian has been re-approved with an additional 2-stories to go on top (incl. the private recreation deck). The following changes are to occur:

• Addition of 12 Multiple Dwelling Units (50 instead of 38)
• Addition of two stories or 5.75m (maximum building height of RL 34.775m AHD instead of RL 29.025m AHD)
• Extension of 1st Floor slab to western boundary (to provide weather protection to Public Parking Area)
• Extension of awning over footpath for full length of road frontage

The developers (M Construct) are also providing heavy contributions to surrounding streetscape upgrades as part of their 'community benefit' contributions as far as I can see. I got this information from the MCC Council Minutes published online - the same minutes also provide details about the heights of other neighbouring developments in the vicinity:

• Latitude (27 Gordon Street) – FCL = 36.1m AHD
• Leichhardt on River Hotel site (29 River Street) – FCL = 35.1m AHD
• The Crown site (27 River Street) – FCL = 37.2m AHD
• The Pier Residences (6 River Street) – FCL = 34.775m AHD
• ‘Dodds’ site (8 River Street) – FCL = 35.9m AHD

Anyone know what the 'Dodds' site is all about, I've never heard of this one before. This covers where Pacino's Waterfront Restaurant is...

Also, does a building over 35m technically constitute a 'highrise' or what's the go with that? If so, Mackay actually has a few. Yay

[Oriolus]

Thats good news. So up to 11 storeys now. I take it they didn't have a render. Wondering if the design has changed to, or they literally just slotted two extra floors in.

And yeh, the definition of a highrise is usually anything over 35m, but those measurements you have are all AHD, which means above sea level (not above ground level) doesn't it? And what is FCL? Quick Google came up with Finished Ceiling Level - does that mean the ceiling of the top floor? If so the buildings would actually be a bit taller then that.

[Red Nut]

I did see the plans over the weekend but they seem to have taken them down. As you suggested, it's basically identical except a bit taller.

I should point out that after reading more detail in the council minutes, it's been approved under condition that the developer either:

• Provide an additional 42 carparks;
• Compensate MCC monetarily for each missing carpark space (at $40,000 each!); or
• Make contributions to streetscapes along Victoria and Brisbane/ Carlyle streets leading into the new Bluewater Quay town square.

The developers may well decide this is too much and return to the drawing board

[mick87]

Scrapped?

[Red Nut]

This is one I can confirm IS dead. I'm sure a lot of them have gone down the gurgler, but this is the first one to definently be confirmed It's a big shame, especially since they got a 2nd DA approved to increase the size of the development to 11 floors.

I remember getting excited when they put up 'under construction' signage around the site perimeter fence year ago. Then came the announcements of 'developers will commence building in 6 to 8 weeks' back in April last year. What a load of marketing crock!!

I sent an email to their agents -didn't reply with too much except for this:

Thank you for your enquiry relating to the Meridian development. Unfortunately with the Financial Crisis the developers of Meridian found that they were not in a position to complete this development and have put the whole site, with DA, on the market for sale.

You are right to have confidence in the Mackay market though and I have attached articles which appeared today in our local paper, rumors are that the market here in Mackay is about to take off in a big way and now is the time to invest.

Currently we do not have any 'off the plan' residential developments, however we do have some very good deals on highrise apartments in "Lanai" and "Rivage", as well as some very good commercial properties, Harbour City Central and Mackay's first GP Superclinic currently under construction, if you are looking at investing and receiving returns on your money.

[Red Nut]

Well here's another project that appears to have come back to life.

Meridian was sold to another developer who has proposed Horizon. 11 stories, and a much better-looking facade. The website has much more information: http://www.horizonsmackay.com.au/location.html







Site is fenced off, which I guess doesn't mean anything. Still, exciting the see a number of Mackay projects underway again after the Financial Crisis period.