Devine Update

"Devine believes the fundamentals for the housing market in Australia remain sound with a significant and growing undersupply of housing which is evidenced by historically low vacancy rates and rising rents."

French Quarter precinct (Brisbane): Expected commencement: June Qtr. 2009, Hotel/Residential/Retail, Estimated Gross Realisation: $1,200M

Hamilton Harbour (Brisbane ) Expected commencement: Dec. Qtr 2008 / Early 2009, Commercial/Residential/Retaill, Estimated Gross Realisation: $400M

See http://clients.weblink.com.au/clients/Devine/article.asp?id=4202568

Following ongoing consultation with the Brisbane City Council and the newly established body, the Urban Land Development Authority, which has been formed by the government to oversee the future development of the “North Shore” precinct at Hamilton, progress is being made to secure a development approval on the Devine/Leighton Properties JV’s Hamilton Harbour project. This is situated adjacent to Brisbane’s new cruise ship terminal at Hamilton, an inner suburb of Brisbane. A $400M mixed-use development is planned for the site.

As announced progressively over the last year, Devine has secured a total of six sites that will comprise a precinct to be known as, “The French Quarter”. A multi-staged development including a six star boutique hotel, up-market residential unit developments, an office building and retail space is planned for this prime site. It is located opposite Brisbane’s Botanical Gardens on the corners of Alice, Albert and Margaret Streets in the Brisbane CBD. Following an international architectural competition, a London based architectural firm (Atkins) who were the architects for the world renowned Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, were selected for the $1.2B project. They will be working in conjunction with ML Design, a Brisbane based architectural firm. It is intended that a JV be entered into with a third party to develop the site. Work is now progressing to secure a development approval for the staged project to be developed over several years.

99 Mary Street in the Brisbane CBD – A number of options for this site are currently being considered which include possible strata titled office building and a hotel development. Discussions with a particular party in relation to the latter option are currently progressing.

http://clients.weblink.com.au/clients/Devine/article.asp?id=4202565

“There is a significant and growing undersupply of housing in Australia which is evidenced by historically-low vacancy rates and rising rents,” Mr Devine said. “Based on this fact and indications that interest rates in Australia might start to trend down in the near future, we expect a recovery of the housing sector although uncertainty remains as to the timing.”

http://clients.weblink.com.au/clients/Devine/article.asp?id=4202567