A booming Sunshine Coast residential community has been recognised with a major accolade at the national urban development industry awards.
Australian developer AVID Property Group’s $4 billion flagship community, Harmony, won the National Project of the Year and National Award for Masterplanned Communities at the Urban Development Institute of Australia National 2023 Awards for Excellence.
AVID Property Group general manager Queensland Bruce Harper said AVID was honoured its Palmview residential community was selected from a high-calibre field of national projects for the industry’s top accolade.
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“Central to Harmony’s success was the early meticulous planning and project visioning the AVID team undertook to map out every aspect of the masterplanned community, from the land sizes and configurations to road widths, landscaping, transport links, green spaces and amenities,” he said.
“We didn’t turn one sod of soil until this process had been completed.
“Our vision for Harmony wasn’t just about meeting increased demand for infrastructure and housing on the Sunshine Coast. Equally important to the AVID team was creating a connected and cohesive community that went above and beyond expectations and surpassed and redefined urban design standards in Australia.”
Mr Harper said Harmony’s urban design process, combined with the appointment of a community development officer, was instrumental in Harmony’s success.
“Residents have embraced Harmony’s bold vision and the many social events and activities that AVID hosts each year to foster community connection and neighbourhood friendships,” he said.
“These include weekly fitness sessions, regular games nights, Halloween and Christmas competitions as well as the community’s signature Long Table Dinner.”
“This community connection is one of the most satisfying achievements for the AVID team.”
After launching six years ago, Harmony has become home to about 6200 residents – close to half the community’s projected total population of 13,000.
The community – a $4 billion project – will comprise 4800 homes, a town centre with a supermarket, commercial spaces and dining facilities.
It will also boast more than 130 hectares of open space including seven major parklands and 11 local parks, including Queensland’s first Grand Linear Park, which spans the length of 10 football fields, along with more than 80 hectares of rehabilitation, all interconnected by a 60km network of pedestrian paths and cycleways.
Harmony also took out Project of the Year and best Master Planned Development at the 2022 Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland Awards for Excellence.
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