Lucky last brings new freedoms
Snapping up the last house in Freedom Rainbow saved local resident, Martin Lewis, a lot of work.
“If I hadn’t been able to buy that last available house, I would have been tracking down someone who owned one,” Martin said. “At the time, I thought someone was going to put up a 15-storey highrise there, which might have impacted my view to Kirra Beach. That’s why I originally went down to have a look. But I discovered the plan was to build 16 new homes on freehold land. I rang the agent and he said they were already sold out – bar one – so I grabbed it. It was hard to believe I had an opportunity to buy a brand new house, right next to the beach. Freedom Rainbow is such a great concept.”
Martin lives at Point Danger, on the hill near the lighthouse, so he knows Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay well. He and his partner, Mary, are keen surfers and paddlers, but lugging surf skis up the hill is not an option. And having to drive is a nuisance.
“Freedom Rainbow is so close, I can just use a little trolley for the surf ski and I’ve only got to walk 50 yards to the beach,” he said. “The best thing is the position. But having a freehold property, without any body corporate to worry about, gives me a lot of freedom to do my own thing. To have a freehold house in Rainbow Bay is just fantastic – there’s going to be 16 very happy people down there when the homes are all completed. People go on about Byron Bay but it is overrated. You can’t park anywhere so you can’t get your board in the water. You have to wait for someone to pull out so you can get a park. On the Gold Coast, it’s built up but there are beaches everywhere, as well as the river and plenty of other opportunities for activities.”
As a local, Martin already appreciated living at Coolangatta and it wasn’t hard to see the value in being immersed in the lifestyle hub.
“I can walk to shops, restaurants, cafes, the surf club, and the beach,” he said. “I’ll never have to use my car again. And the houses look great. They look like beach houses and really fit into the environment. They’re the perfect fit for the Cooly lifestyle but they were also great value for money, as much as anything. I can’t remember the last time a beachside development offered freehold blocks of land where you could build a house.”
Martin said while he was looking forward to having the home completed and moving in, it had been a great experience.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Sherpa. All the people have been professional and very forthcoming. (CEO) Christie Leet has been extremely helpful and willing to spend time with me. Valcon Homes has been excellent to deal with and very professional as well so we’re pretty excited about moving in.”
