Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a list of questions and answers you may need answered. If your question is not listed below, please contact us and we will endevour to post an answer shortly.
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What is the Deposit on a lot and is it refundable?
The deposit is 5% of Lot Price. It is refundable in the event the developer fails to perform the terms of the contract on time or the lot ends up to be not substantially the lot described in the contract.
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When will the lots in the initial stage be registered and ready for construction of our home?
We anticipate that the lots in Stage One will be registered end of July / early August, the exact date subject to how much rain we get during the coming month.
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Are you doing anything about the affordable housing crisis in the Shire?
Yes, we are doing three things about it:
(a) There are a handful of homesites in Stage Two at 450m2, which in combination with a Perry Homes “turn-key” 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-car garage with driveway, mailbox and landscaping in the front yard are offered for less than $400,000. These House and Land packages are available now. Go to question 11 for contact details.
(b) We are planning duplex sites on large lots that will offer two: free-standing, 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 2-car garage units separated by dividing fence. Each of the units will sell for about $330,000. Go to question 11 for contact details.
(c) We are presently designing several areas of the site as finished and landscaped two and three-bedroom homes on Torrens Title lots of the "Mews" configuration that will sell for around $350,000. Many of the beachfront lots at the "Salt" and “Casuarina Beach” developments in Kingscliff are Mews lots. The "Last Wave" development on Bayshore Drive in Byron Bay is a local example of this design.
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The kids want to ride their bikes, but the roads are too busy for young kids. Are you providing bikeways through Tallowood and where do they take you?
All parts of Tallowood Ridge will be linked by paved bike paths. The main bike path will start at the cul de sac at Azalea Street to the East of Tallowood and continue through the Parklands and nature reserve of the initial stage and then along Tallowood Creek for about a kilometre and then climb into the forest at the Southwest corner of Tallowood. From there, one can bike along the top of Tallowood Ridge (few ups and downs) for about 1.5 km back to Tuckeroo Avenue. Along the ridge, bikers will occasionally be sharing with horse riders.
The sports fields are in the centre of the land and a path branches off the main path, taking you to a loop bikeway around the sports fields. Or head north onto Clays Road, where the best swimming hole in Mullum is just around the corner. A paved pathway from the main entrance of Tallowood Ridge and along Mullumbimby Creek Road, past the hospital, and ending at the high school is now complete. The Bowls Club and the Petria Thomas Olympic Pool are next to the High School on your way into town.
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Is there a design theme at Tallowood Ridge, or can we choose our own design and materials?
Following the principles of BASIX, we encourage owners to take advantage of the elevated position (cooling breezes) and north aspect (solar absorption in Winter) in their design, however we do not force any particular "motif" upon you. Go "Federation" weatherboard or "Contemporary" with lots of glass, go full-rendered or exposed brick, colourbond or tile roof—the choice is yours. Please don't plan on using any exposed (un-rendered) concrete block or galvanised tin or fibro-cement on any surface of any building or fence, as these are not permitted.
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Will you build a road that connects Clays Road to Left Bank Road?
Development Control Plan 2010 (Mullumbimby) requires construction of a link road between Clays Road and Left Bank Road as part of the development of Tallowood Ridge. We do not expect there to be very many cars wishing to cross the valley, as most traffic is going into town, however, we believe the residents of Tallowood Ridge will appreciate the benefits of there being a second point of access.
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Why didn't you develop Tallowood Ridge into large lots, say, one or two acres each, like all the land south of the ridge along Left Bank Road?
Under the Byron LEP (1988), the land to the south of the ridgeline was zoned 1(c2) Rural Residential because it was difficult and not cost effective to sewer and because hobby farms were popular at that time. Rural Residential lots have septic systems, which are now known to degrade the quality of the groundwater when not correctly maintained. The land to the north of the ridgeline (Tallowood Ridge) was close to town and able to be sewer serviced, so was zoned 2(a) Urban Residential and homesites are to be "town lots" under the specifications in the Byron DCP 2002.
Sometime in the mid-90's NSW Planning came to the conclusion that Rural Residential lots consume a lot of land close to town quickly and that very few owners of Rural Residential lots choose to do any farming, but they do have a lot of property maintenance, which is often neglected and becomes overgrown. With the arrival of the drought and bushfires, Rural Residential allotments became very unpopular with Authorities.
Two other factors have come into play since 1988:
1) ecologically-sustainable development principles include walking or bike access to town and schools to minimise use of fuels to get around; and
2) Cost of serviceable land close to town is now so high that most families cannot afford the extra cost of large backyards, or choose not to have one to get away from weekly mowing and weeding.
The Mullumbimby Development Control Plan mandates that 10% of the lots created must be 450-550 m2 in size. The Draft Local Environmental Plan under construction at present to replace Byron LEP 1988 dictates that the minimum lot size is 600m2, however, the general trend at the State level and in the market place is for smaller lots, 600m2 and less. There is only one lot at 450m2 in the initial stage of Tallowood Ridge
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Are pets allowed at Tallowood Ridge?
Yes, pets of all sorts are welcome, but Gorillas are not permitted when over the age of one. There is a horse riding school just north of the sports fields where one might be able to keep a horse by arrangement with the owner.
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Are you going to create areas for residents to grow their own vegetables and herbs?
We had not thought of it, however, we have lots of land and a recent phone call from Deborah Lilly has "planted the seed". We support the idea and will now look for suitable areas for perma-culture garden beds for each neighbourhood in Tallowood. Please let us know if this is something you are interested in and, in particular, how many square metres your family would be willing to plant and maintain.
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Which of the builder's do you recommend?
A. The long-established builders offer a wide range of home designs that are professionally designed. Each builder is able to promptly inform you of the cost of different interior finish packages, depending on your budget and preferences. Purchasers are encouraged to visit the website of the builders listed below to find out where each builder has model homes in the area.
Our picks of builders for best combination of price and quality are:
Perry Homes: www.perryhomes.com.au
Perry email: chris.littlewood@perryhomes.com.auAdenbrook Homes: www.adenbrookhomes.com.au
Adenbrook Email:
nyoli.scobie@adenbrook.com.au -
Who do we contact if we want more information about Tallowood Ridge?
We will answer any questions you send us via the website, however, there is no substitute for standing on the land and taking in the view of the mountains - you are invited to visit the site.
Alternatively, enquiries can be made through the following local Real Estate Agent- Chincogan Real Estate – Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby. Phone: (02) 6684-3300
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We will need a loan to fund the purchase of the land and construction of our new home. Do you have any suggestions on how to get a good deal on finance?
In the current financial environment, the banks are frequently requiring the purchaser to contribute 10% of the cost of the house and land and sometimes more where the purchaser does not have a strong financial history, such as first home buyers.
The four banks and dozens of lenders offer different rates, lengths of term and various other special conditions of finance. Sorting through them all to find the one that is right for you and to get the best deal can be quite confusing, as it seems to change almost day by day.
If you would like some obligation-free assistance with finance, we suggest you contact Don Hodgen of "All About Home Loans" on (02) 6681-6599 or (0417) 816-599. Emails to: don@allaboutloans.net.au Don represents about 42 different lenders, isn’t employed by any of them, and has been in the business for more than 25 years.
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I heard that Byron Shire Council is not approving any further development in the Brunswick / Mullumbimby area (a Moratorium on development) until their new sewage treatment plant is finished and the system is performing satisfactorily. Will this delay or prevent registration of our lot?
The new sewage treatment plant is now completed and working well and all homesites in Stage One of Tallowood Ridge will be connected to the Council sewer system.
