Press Releases

OCTOBER 2008                            MEDIA RELEASE
Australia’s best kept property secret no longer

Brisbane developer OzzyConnect is planning to do what no-one else in Australia is doing: giving the average Australian the chance to enter the Queensland property market at a price all levels of investors can afford.

Stage Two of the Ramada Resort Hervey Bay will soon be open for investment. The prospectus, subject to ASIC approval, will be for a minimum of 1000 shares in Stage 2 of the waterfront resort available at just $5,000 each.

The minimum investment is $20,000. These funds could be drawn from self-managed super annuation funds, providing an attractive offer for investors.

OzzyConnect CEO Tim Wright said most property investment in Australia was essentially beyond the reach of the average household.

“If you are looking at an investment property on Australia’s east coast, it’s really a commitment of upwards of $350,000,?Mr Wright said.

“Realistically, this is something that a very small percentage of the population in Australia, and the world, for that matter, can afford.?

Mr Wright said OzzyConnect’s model offered people the chance to enter into the market at an affordable price in what was one of the best-kept coastal secrets in Australia.

“Our unique investment model, gives people an affordable avenue to invest at this key moment in Queensland’s economic cycle,?he said.

“We are talking about a place with a proven track record, having seen an increase in median house price of 20.3 per cent per year from 2000 until 2005.

“The fundamentals of the Queensland economy are sound and we see continued growth in Hervey Bay in line with this.?

“Beyond that, it’s the old property adage of location, location, location,?he said.

“Everybody knows Hervey Bay as the whale watching capital of the world and the gateway to some of the most pristine eco-experiences in the country.?

Also off the coast is one of the region’s jewels, the World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world.

“What a lot of people don’t know about is the evolution of Hervey Bay as one of the most exciting, sustainable and forward-thinking tourism destinations in the world,?Mr Wright said.

“Tourism Queensland and Hervey Bay City Council have committed to an ongoing program of sustainable tourism development designed to capitalise on and protect the region’s natural assets while continuing to grow other experiential aspects of the area such as food, retail, education and industry.

“Ramada Resort Hervey Bay, located at the Boat Harbour Precinct right on the Pacific Ocean, can only benefit from this foresight.

“This is combined with the fact it is in an area with one of the highest growth rates in the country from both a population and property-price perspective.?

Mr Wright said OzzyConnect offered people the security of working with a respected property developer with numerous successful projects on the books.

“There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the market place at the moment wherever you look,?he said.

“The upside of that, is that there has never been a better time to build, and we the experienced developers are there to see there is a return for our investors.

“We are essentially managing the risk for them, with the project structured to provide a return of eight per cent plus potential earnings beyond that in line with the property market.?

Mr Wright said Hervey Bay’s performance from an investment perspective meant the potential for excellent earnings for investors in Ramada Resort Hervey Bay.

Key facts and figures

From the year 2000 to 2005, there was a median house price increase of 20.3 per cent per year. (Hervey Bay City Council ?Economic Profile)

An $800 million world-class marina development, the Urangan Boat Harbour is situated adjacent to the Ramada Resort Hervey Bay, and is currently under construction.

Population growth over the last three years has been almost three times the growth rate recorded in Queensland.

Hervey Bay is the gateway to a number of natural attractions including World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, which attracts 300,000 visitors annually. Visitors to the Fraser Coast region totalled 2,876,000 in 2005 (page 4, Hervey Bay City Council ?Facts and Figures).

Queensland’s peak tourism body, Tourism Queensland along with Fraser Coast Tourism have committed to a destination management plan (DMP) which aims to see the area build its reputation as Australia’s premier nature-based and aquatic playground.

For more information on the Ramada Resort Hervey Bay, OzzyConnect, interviews and images please contact Simon Wright on 3232 5305