The Hastings’ $1.5 billion construction industry has been bolstered with work commencing on Port Macquarie’s new $20 million display village.

The Sovereign Hills Display Village, developed by the Lewis Land Group, is ready for its next chapter with 11 builders committing to the construction of 17 new innovative and energy-efficient designs in the Sovereign Hills master planned community.

The display village generates an estimated $132 million in local new home construction activity annually, or 58% of the region’s residential development which was valued at $227.5 million during the last financial year.

First cab off the rank today was Pycon Homes and Constructions, pouring the foundations for two new homes which will showcase their workmanship and design range.

“It’s been three-and-a-half years since the last display homes were built,” shared Pycon’s Adam Suitor. “Design trends, materials and colours are always changing so it will be great to release fresh new homes for everyone to view.”

Joining Pycon in the new walk-through landscaped village – located parallel to the existing display village on Sovereign Drive – will be Perry Homes, Coral Homes, Adenbrook Homes, Hotondo Homes, McDonald Jones Homes, Vaughan Homes, Stroud Homes, Better Homes and Developments, Sorensen and Caldon Builders and Rob Tate Homes.

The village, the biggest between Newcastle and the Gold Coast, will attract visitors from New South Wales and beyond.

“It will be the flagship of the Perry Homes display villages,” shared Perry Homes’ Luke Cini. “We feel the presentation, the location and the people make it a premier estate, but also the location is easily accessed by our other regions.”

“The fundamentals of Port Macquarie are solid,” explained Coral Homes’ Michael Wilson. “Employment is strong, it’s a lifestyle destination with people from the north and south moving to the area, and we see this display village as a standout amongst its competitors for the value for money and the location.”

Lewis Land Group’s Land Sales Manager Luke Moreta said the village will also be the greenest yet with builders encouraged to adopt sustainable building practices.

“This includes solar electricity, passive solar design principles and an increase in the use of sustainable building materials to boost the home’s energy efficiency,” Mr Moreta shared.

“We are excited to see construction begin and applaud the resilience of our local builder group who continue to do business and move forward despite the COVID-19 challenges faced recently,” he continued.

“The building industry is an essential part of and the largest contributor to the local economy,” added Mr Suitor. “Pycon Homes uses all local trades and suppliers, and for each home that is constructed approximately 70 local businesses are involved at some level.”

The construction industry makes the greatest contribution to the Port Macquarie-Hastings region’s economic output. At $1.5 billion per annum it accounts for 16.62% of total output and around 3,000 local jobs.

These figures are expected to remain strong post-COVID-19, according to Jeffery Sharp, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Director of Strategy and Growth.

“We’re proud to call ourselves one of Australia’s strongest regional economies and are confident we’ll continue to grow and prosper in spite of the recent challenges of COVID-19. New residents and businesses tell us they love that we are big enough to offer a wealth of opportunity, but small enough that you can still enjoy our beautiful nature without any crowds,” said Mr Sharp.

“Recent times have demonstrated that we don’t have to be in a ‘workplace’ to work effectively and Port Macquarie is the perfect place to live, work and enjoy a slower pace of life by our pristine beaches or in our rural hinterland.”

As for what visitors can expect from the new Sovereign Hills Display Village…

“Customers can expect to see a strong use of organic materials, thoughtful spaces and world class finishes,” shared McDonald Jones Homes’ David Malvern. “This will be an excellent opportunity for new home buyers to see and experience the latest in architecture and innovation within the industry.”

“We’ll be taking our stunning new Hamptons-inspired home to the next level with raked ceilings, Hamptons cladding and kitchen cabinetry, and the full landscaping package while providing an education piece on how to achieve this style within budget,” explained Coral Homes.

“We’re displaying our homes with a better relationship between the internal and external areas of the homes,” added Perry Homes. “There will be more of a cohesion between our internal layout and external landscaping. It’s also a chance to display three different homes and themes to inspire all buyers and budgets.”

The builders will start to transition to their new homes before Christmas with a grand opening anticipated during the first quarter of 2021.