MAB forging ahead – Andrew Buxton reflects on the year that was and details exciting plans for 2012
MAB Managing Director Andrew Buxton reflects on the year that was and details exciting plans for 2012.
If l was asked to summarise 2011 for MAB, l would describe the year as a challenging but very strategic year for the organisation.
A challenging year due to our ambitious objectives.
In this, our 16th year, we delivered:
• 22 townhouses at Quay Park
• 18 luxury homes at Marina Residences
• 113 apartments at The Mariner
• 291 apartments, 10 office terraces and 28 serviced apartments at HarbourOne
• 75 apartments at South Road, Moorabbin
• Industry Business Hub at South Melbourne
• 160,000 sqm of industrial land.
We will also warmly welcome approximately 500 residents to HarbourOne before the end of the year. No mean feat and a great testimony to our team.
MAB’s commitment to building a vibrant inner-city waterfront at Docklands remains steadfast. As you would have read in this edition, plans for our next phase at Docklands – NewQuay Central – have been released.
We are proud of our commitment to the Docklands development. Our involvement totals 15 years with a long future ahead.
NewQuay Central will see the activation and regeneration of what is currently considered a tired space. The plan is well-formed, attracting tourism dollars and creating jobs. The area will also boast the largest public park in Docklands – much needed open space for the whole community to enjoy.
Our focus to transform what was once a disused and desolate harbour frontage into a sophisticated waterfront precinct of a world-class standard remains firm.
This year, MAB has also been very active in the commercial and industrial space, with presence right throughout Melbourne. We have a solid history of commercial and industrial projects dating back 16 years – our progress this year ensures we continue to play a key role in this sector for many years to come.
New projects include Expressway at Cook Street, Port Melbourne which will comprise a service station and convenience stores together with prime industrial land, the majority of which has already been sold.
We have cemented the future growth of the business with the acquisition of employment landholdings, particularly at Epping and Cranbourne. The Epping business park alone has the potential to create 4,000 jobs over 62 hectares.
And our major projects team has also been kept busy with ongoing master planning and delivery of trunk infrastructure at our largest and most visionary development to date, Merrifield on the Hume Highway in Mickleham. A new city for Melbourne, Merrifield will comprise in excess of 1,000 hectares and what is planned is truly inspired.
Our current flagship mixed used development – University Hill at Bundoora – received industry recognition this year, awarded the ‘Best Master Planned Community’ at the Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards. This follows a UDIA ‘Best Master Planned Development’ award in 2010. These awards recognise MAB’s vision, innovation, reputation and strong relationships.
University Hill will continue to evolve with a retail transformation planned for early 2012 and completion of our third office building, 240 UNI HILL.
Despite a negative view of the economy by external parties, the wheels continue to
turn at MAB.
We are well positioned for next year and into the future. At MAB, we look forward to continuing to shape Melbourne’s future.