Ocean Reach is a stunning, waterfront, 100-unit, apartment complex on one of the Sunshine Coast’s most prestigious locales, Kawana Island.
The property has unmatched resort-style facilities and no expense has been spared with its world-class fixtures and fittings.
The location of the complex is ideal for residents who want to experience the most coastal living possible. Just metres from the boardwalk and water’s edge, the property is also close to the billion-dollar medical precinct and Sunshine Coast University, public and private hospital, university, and sandy beaches of Mooloolaba and Kawana. The four-storey building was completed in 2010, architect-designed to capture the essence of island living.
Site managers Peter and Rossina Gall, told us: “The Ocean Reach apartments offer peaceful water and park views with a carefree, low maintenance lifestyle that leaves time for our residents to enjoy exclusive use of the leisure facilities.
“Beautiful one, two and three-bedroom units offer views across waterways, parklands or the resort pool and gardens. The apartments are centred around the unique central atrium that keeps the building cool. On arrival, many visitors state that the atrium is ‘so tranquil’ with the tropical plants, award winning gardens and sound of running water.”
Overjoyed to have been managing Ocean Reach since September 2014, Peter and Rossina both had experience in asset and property management before they took the plunge and bought these management rights. Prior they had worked and travelled throughout Australia and overseas. They make an excellent team - Rossina has a background in marketing and PR. Peter has also managed large scale Australian agricultural operations, so is very adept managing people, infrastructure, technology, and production.
Rossina said: “It was Peter’s idea. We moved to the Sunshine Coast in search of a management rights business that suited our needs and growing family; our three children, age six, nine and eleven all needed to go to good schools nearby. Initially, we looked at holiday complexes all along the coast from Noosa to Scarborough, but then we discovered Kawana Island and Ocean Reach.
“Ocean Reach had everything we had been searching for; it is like a relaxing holiday resort but for permanent residents only and with long term renters there is less coming and going to worry about. Moreover, because everyone lives here full-time, they care about the long-term condition of the complex. We have settled wonderfully, with the kids at school and also in Mooloolaba Nippers.”
Rossina explained what motivates them…
“We like making things better - helping people. It is also rewarding for us when we get compliments about our commitment to the complex. Every day we learn something new and both enjoy learning new skills or absorbing interesting new information.
“We also like sharing with our other site manager buddies on the Sunshine Coast. We come from industries and backgrounds where people share knowledge and help each other so we have a strong and growing network here, where we promote each other’s complexes and management and call each other for tips and support. It works well. Call me if you would like to join in – the more the merrier!”
What’s their greatest achievements over the past four years?
“We feel that we’ve achieved a lot both individually and as a team. Finding Ocean Reach after much searching and researching was a big achievement, also, arranging our top-up by five years and learning about the laws in terms of strata, and new RTA laws. We go to as many events as we can to meet others and learn more, attending: Brisbane REIQ Summit, Archers Strata meetings, RTA updates and now after three years it is all second nature to us. However, there is always a little something more you can take away and implement to make the operation run smoother and more efficiently.”
What advice can you give other resort managers or potential managers?
“Take care to pick a complex you love and help create an environment you are proud of. We aim for better rents, respectful residents, reasonable body corporate committees and to maintain outstanding facilities that residents can brag about. Read everything, ask questions and create a home for your residents.
“We say that people don’t have to live in each other’s pockets but a smile and wave and ‘hello’ should be the norm. Ocean Reach is a friendly complex and people notice this. We are also very mindful of privacy, this is something that can wane, but it is something we are very serious about.”
What do you enjoy most?
“Ocean Reach is a beautiful complex to work in, we also both like people: their stories, learning new things and helping them where we can. We also enjoy the mixed demographic of people, ages, nationalities, from all walks of life, that live here and on the Sunshine Coast. What’s more, we like that we can ride our bikes to Mooloolaba in 10 minutes.”
What does your accommodation do best?
Ocean Reach is renowned for having best resort-style facilities on the Sunshine Coast, in a popular and growing location. Right now, this area is absolutely ‘going off’ as it is just 5.2km from the new public and private hospitals. The Sunshine coast’s first gold class cinema will open next year, and we can walk there.
Do you have anything to say about the MR industry in general?
“Management rights offers a good balance and is flexible. We’ve enjoyed our ride so far and would recommend it to people who care about what they do. If you like offering an excellent service in any industry, you will like offering an excellent service in management rights.”
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