By Luke Voogt
A Chinese-owned developer has begun work on the first 81 lots of a new Armstrong Creek estate.
Jinding Developments recently announced it had broken ground on the Harriott estate, two years after the Independent first revealed the company had bought into the bourgeoning Geelong suburb.
The company had initially expected to begin selling properties at the new development towards the end of 2018.
Jinding Developments and Jinding Australia are part of the Jinding Group, headquartered in Qindao with 65 offices located across China.
Jinding Australia focuses on Australian property development, migration and education services, according to its website.
Melbourne-based construction company Bitu-Mill will undertake civic works for the first two stages of the Harriott estate.
The works will pave the way for the first 81 blocks of the planned 659-lot community to be ready by mid next year.
The initial stages will also include the first portion of a linear reserve which, on completion, will span the length of the estate.
Future amenities within the estate will include 140-hectares of public open space including central parklands and regional sporting facilities.
Jinding has partnered with Yolk Property Group and landowners the Harkness family to build the estate next to the Sparrovale Wetlands nature reserve.
Geelong council recently commenced $4 million upgrade works on the 500-hectare nature reserve.
Lot pricing ranges from $180,000 to $314,000, with lot sizes ranging from 221 square metres to more than 550sqm.
Jinding Developments was excited to celebrate turning the first sod, managing director Liz Ronson said.
“We have continued to achieve great success and strong sales for Harriott in 2020.”
City Hall’s development director Gareth Smith said the “enviable lifestyle” of Geelong and Armstrong Creek continued “to draw new residents to our region”.
