Enter the newly opened Gippsland Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) foyer and it is impossible to ignore the towering ‘trees’ seemingly growing from rich burgundy carpet and holding up the ceiling of this imposing building. Created from GoodWood Victorian ash timber by Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) in Heyfield, Victoria, not only are these 8.5m tall columns spectacularly striking, but they are environmentally sustainable. ASH is committed to supplying sustainable timber products - timber is sourced from regrowth forests and 100% of each log received is used. But most of all, what makes ASH timber so extraordinarily unique is its ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it for life in an attractive building material. The Gippsland ‘trees’ were produced on the MASSLAM line in Heyfield. MASSLAM is a range of glue-laminated timber systems including hardwood or softwood beams, columns, floors, and roof structures. Each tree took approximately 16 hours to CNC machine into the finished component, which then required sanding, polishing and custom fabricated steel connections attached before being joined together. Australian Sustainable Hardwoods products are used in both residential and commercial builds in Australia and New Zealand. More than just a supplier, ASH often works with architects during the design & specification stage to create an impactful design. ASH delight in incorporating the perfect timber finish into a space and are thrilled when projects are recognised, such as “Autumn House” by Studio Bright which won four awards in the 2022 Houses Awards for House of the Year, House Alteration and Addition Over 200m2, Garden/Landscape and House in a Heritage Context. This project used ASH’s stunning GoodWood Victorian ash, a timber that ensures consistency of quality and colour across several applications. Taking advantage of ASH’s ability to produce a range of profiles in the one timber, Autumn House features windows and doors, lining and stairs all made from GoodWood and beautifully balanced to create a harmonious flow of design. ASH has a versatile range of products to suit every purpose. GoodWood is often used to make a statement in designs, creating features out of such areas as the staircase, benchtops, linings, flooring and veneers. ASH treats this same timber with a H3 invisible preservative to create IronAsh, ideal for external use. ASH has even improved upon America’s favourite hardwood, American Oak, with their range of American Oak by ASH, using innovative processing methods that are superior to those used elsewhere. And the Australian Oak is a completely customisable engineered flooring product, soon to be manufactured entirely right here in Australia. ASH continues to innovate and add to its range to meet customer needs. They are in the process of adding new timbers like Tasmanian Oak, a timber with excellent staining qualities making colour matching to other finishes easy, and Plantation Shining Gum to their product range. With so many stunning products to choose from, home owners may find themselves unable to choose between timbers – and the good news is they don’t have to! A combination of ASH timbers can be featured throughout the build to great effect. “Sunhill” by Orbis Construction pulled its inspiration from the outdoors and used texture and colour to create unity between this tranquil haven and its surroundings. Using a range of timbers, the grains and tones of American Oak by ASH, Australian Oak and IronAsh complement each other and create a natural aesthetic to produce a warm and inviting sanctuary. Builders and renovators keen to incorporate stunning wood features in their homes or commercial properties should go to ash.com.au for inspiration, and can even order samples of ASH product.

Home is where the heart is, so it could not be more appropriate that Ana Casagrande, Owner of Attitude Designs, signs off her emails with a heart. Hailing from Brazil, Ana has an impressive list of qualifications from architecture and interior design through to marketing to feng shui and enneagram. These seemingly unrelated disciplines meld together beautifully to create homes that are tranquil and unique – a welcoming space for occupants to feel safe and happy in. Ana’s goal is to create a place of refuge, a special place to sink into and to express one’s individuality. Having worked in Brazil, the US, Portugal and now Australia, and for companies such as Domain, Ana brings a wealth of experience, product knowledge and style to each project. Homeowners work with Ana in the way that suits them best, tapping into her creativity either in person or virtually via the Attitude Designs’ virtual staging program. The process of virtual staging starts with an online survey that reveals the user’s design personality and provision of a floor plan. Homeowners then receive a host of tools to help them decide how to style their rooms. They may choose to be guided by the mood board and colour scheme suggested by Ana, or they may go the whole nine yards and style their home exactly to the photos or video provided via the virtual staging program. Ana also gives design tips to explain why she has selected certain pieces, as well as information about where they can be bought. Ana even offers a shopping day, accompanying her clients to stores she knows have just the right items that will work together to make their house a home. Just one look at the Attitude Designs website is proof enough that the personality of Ana’s clients is always at the heart of every project. Just recently, Ana completed a project (and potentially saved a marriage!) that was tricky as the husband and wife could not agree on the style for their home. With patience and care, Ana worked with the couple to create the home of BOTH their dreams. Whether the aim is to create a space to relax into at the end of the day, to increase the sale price of a home for sale, or even to increase your property’s profile on Air BnB, Attitude Designs work to style and budget and consistently receive five-star reviews. Keen to style your own home but just not sure if you have the right idea or you would like some guidance? Attitude Design’s interior design course may be a better option for you. Completed online from the comfort of your home in just six weeks you’ll learn about styles and market trends, how to use colour, measuring and how to use space to achieve the look you want with the budget you have. The Attitude Designs interior design process is unique in many ways, but particularly as it allows the client to decide how much involvement they would like to have. Homeowners can take a totally trusting hands off approach or, if they have ideas or simply want to learn more about designing their own space, they can work collaboratively with Ana to come to the final design or even participate in Ana’s design course. To discuss how you would like to style your home, contact Ana at

1 Carroo Lane, Ridgewood Chatting with Kess Prior: What interesting property are you working on now? There are a number of unique properties I have listed but there is one that is particularly special in my opinion. 21 Carroo Lane, Ridgewood is such a diverse package. It consists of elevated 10 acres with gorgeous landscaped gardens, rainforest, a serious of billabongs with resident platypus, two amazing homes interconnected by timber decks. The sellers have spent many years creating a magical paradise that is really quite hard to beat. When entering the property it feels as if you’ve gone to a resort in a different part of the world, one which is very difficult to leave. Get in touch - kess@hinternoosa.com.au or 0404 344 399 salessupport@hinternoosa.com.au or heather@hinternoosa.com.au For more information get in touch with :

51 Broadwater Street, Runaway Bay Chatting with Natasha Price: What interesting property are you working on now ? It is a DA Approved - ready to develop - medium Density / or a family home. It is set on a near level block of approx 658m2 in the one of the most desirable pockets in Runaway Bay, this property oozes opportunity. The current owner has done all the hard yards and can provide you with the plans and development approval he has to build three townhouses on this allotment, making this a quick turnaround for new or seasoned developers. The current designs for the townhouses see them featuring 3 bigger than average bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garages, open plan living and external living areas, however there is scope to change the internal designs and layouts to cater for prospective purchasers requirements. Just a short walk to the iconic Cav's Steakhouse, Broadwater, parks, boat ramps, Shopping and sporting centres, library, schools, medical services, police station, and much, much more! Runaway Bay is more than just a suburb, it offers a 'lifestyle' which has already established infrastructure, services, and a highly regarded reputation as one of the best areas to live on the Northern end of the Gold Coast. Currently this property is a family home featuring 4 bedrooms with built-in robes, 2 bathrooms, open plan living area with high vaulted ceilings, spacious kitchen with stone benchtops, a large inground swimming pool, separate building with third bathroom attached to the garage and carport, and an undercover outdoor dining area. For further information about the Development application, approval, City Plan zoning, Land title, description, and potential development sales, please contact Natasha to obtain a copy of the Feasibility report she has prepared. Contact Natasha on: natasha.p@cocorealestate.com.au or 0407 390 221 Contact Natasha on: natasha.p@cocorealestate.com.au or 0407 390 221

Amanda McEwin lay in a hospital bed with her new-born daughter in her arms, dreading the thought, that after only a short period of time she’d have to leave her baby at day-care and return to her 9-5 job, she could never have imagined that 18 months later she would be working for herself in a job that she loves AND that provides her the flexibility to spend as much time with her family as she likes. But that is exactly what happened. Amanda was working in an IT business development role when she had her third child. She found herself dreading the thought of returning to a job when her parental leave ended, so determined to find a way out of the rat race, Amanda invested in educating herself, took the plunge and started buying investment properties. She quickly realized this wouldn’t get her out of her job anytime soon so she educated herself again and started doing more active property strategies such as renovation. It wasn’t until she did her first property development that the financial rewards and lifestyle she had been looking for happened. The sale of her first development deal for a tidy profit 15 months later allowed her to quit her job – and pay off her mortgage! Amanda continues to develop property through her company Onassis Developments. Amanda realized that profiting from property development is not just for property magnates, and so in 2020 she set up Rising Star Property Developer so that others can learn from her journey into the property market and secure their own futures with Amanda’s first hand guidance. Having experienced such remarkable success herself, Amanda felt that it was worth nothing, unless she helped others to achieve the same results. Amanda has a philosophy of keeping life simple, and this approach is the very key to the success of her property development program. Based online, the program takes budding property developers through a step-by-step process that is easy to understand. Students have access to online course as well as two group coaching calls a month. Students of the course ask questions and get advice from Amanda on current deals and challenges to their business, as well as tips on how to manage their mindset, how to run their business and how to deal with the difficulties of the property market. Students are also invited to join a Facebook community and hear from Amanda weekly via email to ensure that they stay on track. Amanda also hosts a number of events, both virtual and face to face. The level of support offered by Amanda is second to none and it intensifies as participants navigate their own deals. Amanda vets’ applicants for the program carefully to ensure that they are a good fit for the program and that the “Inner Circle” of graduates is supportive of each other and committed to following the steps of the program to achieve their own success. Amanda’s greatest joy is to see her students realize their goals, whether it be to pay off their mortgage, leave their job, work from anywhere in the world or simply achieve the flexibility they need to genuinely enjoy their family life. Regardless of the state of the market, using Amanda’s strategies, her graduates make their own success, as the style of property development employed will succeed regardless of the state of the market. The Chester - 4 Executive luxury two storey homes in Lockley by Onassis Developments Prior to COVID, was primarily developing affordable homes to the value of $500,000. During the pandemic there was greater demand for houses in the $900,000-$1,200,000 range. Now Amanda senses that the market is shifting back to the more affordable housing for first home buyers, investors, and down-sizers. Regardless of the market, Amanda prides herself on producing a champagne product on a budget. She taps into current trends, such as the current preference for low maintenance properties in well serviced areas with simple, comfortable living and, as a result, develops properties that she knows will succeed. Amanda is living proof that anyone can enter the property development market. She believes that education is the number one precursor to success. Amanda is astounded at the number of people who jump into the market without doing so much as a feasibility study or risk analysis and who then wonder why it did not work and retreat from the market never to give it another go. Despite her own success, Amanda continues to identify where she can benefit from further education, and she invests time, energy, and money into educating herself. Amanda is a student for life. Some of the homes produced by Amanda & Onassis Developments on their property journey Amanda also believes it is important to know your why. This is the thing, that when the going gets tough, will keep you going. Roadblocks are inevitable, it is an understanding of why you are doing what you are doing that will help you overcome them. She also suggests that you make your why bigger than yourself to keep you accountable. If successfully developing properties is the key to paying the kids’ school fees, booking an annual holiday abroad for your partner and yourself or just making sure that your family no longer has to stress about the cost of day to day living, then you are more likely to hold yourself accountable and to make it work. Most importantly, Amanda says that it is important that you do not give up. Invest in yourself, find someone that you connect with to continue your education and tap into the support that is available to you. Amanda is delighted that in the two years since she started Rising Star Property Developer, she has seen a number of graduates of the program wave their jobs goodbye and many have paid off their mortgages. Watch as Lyndall shares her upcoming project with Amanda If you want to set yourself up for the future and would like more information about Onassis Developments or Rising Start Property Developer, please contact Amanda McEwin at connect@risingstardeveloper.com.au. or follow the link below

It’s hard to imagine that summer is coming when its pouring outside but it is, not yet but soon, we hope! If you’ve been thinking of getting back on the holiday letting scene and renting out your property, as a Short-Term Rental Accommodation, then make sure you’re across the legislation which is in effect in NSW. Yes, it’s a bit of work to cross your t’s and dot your I’s but it’s important that you fulfil relevant terms of the legislation & avoid disciplinary action or you could even be excluded from the register & may miss out on having guests. If you are an owner or letting agent of a property that is to be used for as a short -term let, then you will need to make sure that you have registered the property, on the mandatory short-term rental accommodation register or otherwise known as the STRA. Once done you will receive a STRA number, which is needed if you wish to advertise the property as a short-term let on leasing platforms. If the property you are looking to rent out is in a strata complex in NSW, then check the strata schemes existing By Laws, as the legislation allows owners corporations to adopt by-laws that prohibit non-resident lot owners from offering short term rentals. It is worth noting that in areas such as Byron Shire LGA, where The STRA provisions now apply, allow for a maximum of 180 days per year for non-hosted STRA. It is a requirement of the code of conduct, that the guest is provided with a copy of the code of conduct and if applicable the By Laws for the strata premises, along with contact details of the host or hosts’ agent, and emergency electrical or plumbing services details along with contact details of the Australian emergency services. Probably the most crucial aspect of having short-term letting is that the property complies with the relevant fire safety standards, including that all STRA properties are to have an evacuation plan & interconnected smoke alarms. So, if you are planning to open your doors to short-term letting quests, start getting ready to fulfil the requirements and be ready for summer. Source: Short-term rental accommodation - (nsw.gov.au)

It's that time of the year and with all the moisture in the air - it really is just so rare if you have not seen this unwelcome visitor somewhere in your home, yes its mould. What is mould ? It's a type of fungus that loves warm moist conditions and thrives in dark & poorly ventilated areas, such as kitchens, bedrooms, basements & bathrooms. There are few basic ways to prevent this dreaded little pest from becoming your unwanted tenant: - open your home up to fresh air & sunlight, lots of sunlight, yes it may be a bit chilly at times but its better than letting the mould grow - if you have exhaust fans installed, use them - wipe of all residue moisture and soap & dust from all surfaces - mould loves to mingle and stick - if you are stepping in from the rain, make sure you dry your clothes prior to placing them in the wardrobe - and whilst its pricey - its worth it, use moisture absorbent granules in cupboards - use dehumidifiers - there are several sizes available and you can move them from room to room, even if you only chose a small one - if you have a lot of tropical plants that give of moisture - move them to a suitable room and use succulents instead, succulents, as the name implies, suck up moisture from the air and will help eliminate some of the damp in the air - check if you have leaking pipes or a leaking roof , it could be the source of nasty black mould - but when its raining and its damp outside, then you can close the windows, after all you don' want to let in more moisture So remember to alleviate & ventilate. How do you remove mould ? Quickly, remove it as soon as you see it. If left for longer it tends grow and multiply and becomes harder to remove. You can use store bought chemical mixes or if you are opting for something more friendly you can use very hot water, mild detergents and white vinegar. Make sure you wear gloves and protect your eyes & ventilate the area that you are in, especially if you have opted for using the stronger store bought products.

It has been a long time coming but finally the details of strata properties will now exist in a government register & not just in the files of your strata manager, as they will be collected by NSW Fair Trading. The information that will be required to be submitted outside of the basic property details will include the strata plan no, no of lots, number of lots that are residential commercial or other, the contact details for secretary, chairperson, the strata manager & building managers details if any. The details of the building structure such as the no of levels, above and below ground, NABERS rating if any, the fire safety certificate details, value of the premises and emergency contact details plus more. Whilst the information will not be for public viewing, the Secretary may disclose some of it to certain public bodies such as council, police & the fire brigade. This will certainly allow for a more uniform access for contact details of a building in case of emergencies. Contacting neighbouring buildings strata Committee's to discuss shared fences, boundaries, retaining wall slips, tree damages and occasional emergencies, has to date often been challenging for many strata managers. So whilst the contact details are not open to the public at least with this change in legislation it will make it easier to have certain bodies ( council, police ) get in touch with a building, should the need arise. The new reporting laws will come into affect on the 30 June 2022 for Strata schemes. These will require that Strata schemes submit an annual report to NSW Fair Trading. Whilst Strata schemes will have until the 31 December 2022 to submit the relevant details, its best to start early. It will be a straight forward process to submit the information via the Strata Hub that has been created by NSW Fair Trading and it will be accessible from July onwards for strata scheme managers, chairpersons & secretaries, to register and set up their profiles. The reporting requirements are set out in the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Information) Regulation 2021.

Good house keeping tips for the wet season