Construction begins on Gungahlin's first high-rise building

Construction started this week on Gungahlin’s first apartment tower, Mezzo – a 12-storey, two-building development.

The complex is the first of three high-rise developments slated for the town centre, with an eight-storey and a 22-storey development soon to follow.

Two penthouse apartments in the 22-storey development, Infinity Towers, have sold for more than $1 million. 

The three projects will bring more than 800 new dwellings to the town centre and strong sales have been recorded at all developments.

The $46 million Mezzo complex, which is being developed by POD Projects Group, will comprise one 12-storey and one seven-storey building.

Plans for the 12-storey building include a 25-metre rooftop pool and outdoor entertaining area, while the seven-storey building will have a landscaped rooftop alfresco space with barbecues, pizza ovens and a resident’s library.

POD Projects Group’s managing director Paul O’Donnell said the development has been a hit with buyers and 70 per cent of the 126 units have already sold.

“The majority of buyers have been Gungahlin residents who want to live in or invest in the town centre,” Mr O’Donnell said.

Mr O’Donnell said a diverse mix of owner-occupiers have purchased a home at Mezzo, with first home buyers and downsizers alike being drawn to the location and on-site amenities.

POD sales agent Steve Laughton said the development will add to Gungahlin’s vibrancy.

“The 126 homes at Mezzo will mean more residents for the town centre, and more people frequenting the local businesses,” Laughton said.

“Mezzo will add even more energy to an already vibrant and thriving town centre.”

Construction on eight-storey development, Uptown, and 22-storey complex, Infinity Towers, is also expected to commence this year.

LJ Hooker Project Marketing managing director Andrew Ligdopoulos said construction is set to begin on Uptown within the next few months and about 95 per cent of the development has been sold.

Geocon managing director Nick Georgalis said the company has already sold 50 apartments in the first release at Infinity Towers.

Upon completion the development will be 70 metres tall and the highest structure in Canberra after Telstra Tower.

Residents will enjoy a “sky park” including a 20-metre infinity pool on the sixth floor.

“We’ve been knocked off our chair at the eagerness of people who want to buy a high-rise apartment in Gungahlin,” Mr Georgalis said.

“We’ve made 50 sales to date, three penthouses, two of them over $1 million and one almost a million.”

Mr Georgalis said Infinity Towers’ penthouse buyers have also been locals.

“They’re downsizers from Gungahlin,” Mr Georgalis said.

“They’ve probably raised their family, they’ve all moved out, they want to stay in the Gungahlin area – they’re not international investors, it is the locals.”

Mr O’Donnell said residential development in Gungahlin will energise the town centre and benefit the wider Gungahlin community.

“The more of this type of development we see, the more amenity we’ll see for the rest of Gungahlin,” Mr O’Donnell said.

A $60 million expansion of Gungahlin Marketplace is currently in the works and a seven-theatre cinema complex will soon be constructed in the town centre.

The $59 million Bunnings Warehouse, which is the largest in the ACT, was finished late last year.

Mr O’Donnell said recent development has helped spur residential sales in the town centre.

These three developments could be both the first and the last high-rise buildings in Gungahlin. Infinity Towers was approved just weeks before a height limit of 23-metres was imposed for all new structures in area.