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December 19, 2022 | IN Media Release and News | BY AVID | 3 min read

A trailblazing Sunshine Coast residential development that boasts 40 per cent greenspace has taken out top honours in one of the state’s premier industry awards.

AVID Property Group’s flagship residential community, Harmony, took out Project of the Year and best Master Planned Development at the 2022 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland Awards for Excellence. Harmony was also a finalist in the Excellence in Environmental Design category.

The five-year-old community, which is currently 50 per cent complete, will comprise 4,800 homes, a town centre with 25,000 sqm of retail and commercial space, seven major parklands including a Grand Linear Park the length of 10 football fields, and 60km of pedestrian path and cycleways when the final residents are due to move in, which is expected to be approximately five years from now.

AVID Property Group General Manager Queensland Bruce Harper said the vision for Harmony – the largest development in the new Sunshine Coast suburb of Palmview – emerged during a lengthy and detailed urban design process.

Mr Harper said the objective was to create a beautifully curated community, where residents felt connected to their environment, homes and neighbours, setting it apart from other residential development projects in the country.

“AVID is humbled to be recognised by the Queensland development industry and to be awarded both Master Planned Development and Project of the Year,” Mr Harper said.

“We laboured over every detail before we even put pen to paper because we wanted to create something special that delivered above expectations and set new standards in community design and amenity.

“This included delivering significantly wider than usual neighbourhood streets with deep planting, incorporating clever housing designs with rear garages to declutter the streetscapes and using bioretention devices to treat stormwater onsite for improved sustainability.

“Harmony is a community where every stage of life is catered for by its diverse housing mix and accessibility to key services such as childcare, schools, the University of the Sunshine Coast, medical facilities and lifestyle amenities.”

Mr Harper said a year before construction commenced on Harmony, AVID appointed a Community Development Officer to create a welcoming neighbourhood culture underpinned by social events such as fitness sessions, playgroups and community celebrations that would bring people together.

“Harmony’s signature community event is the annual Long Table Dinner where new and existing neighbours get to know one another and strike up long-lasting friendships. This year’s event is being held this Saturday 12 November,’’ Mr Harper said.

“It’s not uncommon for residents to know their neighbours five houses away, not just next-door. This remarkable community connection is among the most satisfying achievements for the AVID team.”

AVID also funds an annual Community Sponsorship and Grants Program which has invested almost $600,000 in 11 community projects. The successful 2022 grant recipients will be announced at the Long Table Dinner.

The UDIA Queensland 2022 Awards for Excellence have been AVID’s most successful to date, after it was also named a finalist in the Medium Density Development award category for its completed Gold Coast project, Sphere, and Senior Development Manager Cadi Weeks secured a finalist spot in the Women in Leadership category.

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