The ivy, Doreen

BradC · Oct 04, 2017 8:49 am

Hi Sam, with the BAL being removed does this mean you saved money from your building costs? We have been quoted 4k from Henley to cover BAL 12.5 for our block in Stage 5A

SAW · Oct 04, 2017 10:03 am

BradC

Hi Sam, with the BAL being removed does this mean you saved money from your building costs? We have been quoted 4k from Henley to cover BAL 12.5 for our block in Stage 5A

BradC · Oct 04, 2017 11:20 am

Great, thanks Sam, we havent got to contract stage yet so I will ask them to remove it (hoping the entire estate will be downgraded from BAL 12.5 to zero). Thanks

tanz1110 · Oct 04, 2017 11:59 am

BradC

Hi tanz, was this latest update from Rhonda? The latest update I had was Feb / March for Stage 5 but this was about 6 weeks ago. We had a look on the weekend and there is still a lot of work to be done!

Hi Brad,
This update was from Rod about a month ago- "Stage 3 is expected to receive statement of compliance by November, therefore depending on the approval process titles have a possibility to be achieved in December for pre-Christmas settlement but could also be in January 18.
Stage 4 is in the same boat as stage 3 with regards to timing.
Stage 5 completion is now expected in Feb, with statement of compliance expected in March, therefore settlement expected in April 2018."

Are you also in Stage 5A?

Tanz

BradC · Oct 04, 2017 12:02 pm

Thanks Tanz, yeah, we are on a corner block in Stage 5A, cant wait to start building! Hoping we will be in before Christmas next year

Sam77 · Oct 04, 2017 12:33 pm

Thanks Tanz!

Sam77 · Oct 04, 2017 3:10 pm

Many thanks SAW!

Sam77 · Oct 04, 2017 10:03 pm

SAW

Sam77

Hi Guys,

I bought a lot in stage 6 last May. I went to Ivy 2 weeks ago and it seems far away behind still bitumen not done for stage 3. I have been told stage 6 expected to be titled in May 2018.Any one from stage 3 has a date for stage titling?
Can any one from stage 1&2 advise if they in push fire zone or no?

We were up there on the weekend and Stage 3 had gutters in and looked ready for bitumen. Certainly possible for this to be released this year. However Stage 4 looked to be further behind.

We are in Stage 2, wetland frontage and very close to the gorge park, and our BAL rating was removed before release (was BAL 12.5 before release). Considering that Stage 6 is right in the middle of the development I would be very surprised if it has a BAL rating.

Many thanks SAW

Sam77 · Oct 04, 2017 10:06 pm

Thanks Taz

SAW · Oct 09, 2017 9:38 am

Butterman

SAW

Stage 2 settled almost 3 weeks ago. Already lots of water meters popping up, some temp fencing & one site with slab poured.

However they have not started on the fencing or landscaping. They have put temp fencing to stop people entering the gorge park, but it has been pulled down in several section with evidence of people driving in the park & tearing up the grass. There was also some unfinished foot path sections last week.

The biggest disappointment is the wetlands. They have deleted the footpath from the western side, which means you now have to cross the road 4 times to walk around from one side to the other, not ideal for going for a walk with kids. On the eastern side they have put up an ugly fence between the path & the wetlands, which gives a terrible outlook from that side. The developers have assured us that they have put aside significant funds for landscaping & they are committed to delivering a high quality finish. We will wait & see, but a little sceptical.

We are still finalising our quote with the builder. At this stage we want to wait & see how the landscaping works out before we commit to building. Would also like to see whether our neighbours are building double story, as this will impact on our build. Don't really want to build a single story overshadowed by doubles on both sides. Good news is that we should see a reasonable return if we sell the land, considering the latest stages are selling for significantly more than we paid, & there are no gorge front blocks left. Though with the requirement to start build within 12 months we will have to make our minds up in the next few months.

I would have to agree with your appraisal re " The Wetlands". I have contacted the developer ( email pasted below ) regarding this "trotting track " they have run around the wetlands...
I am hoping that enough people get behind a push to get this thing taken out and replaced with something more in keeping with the picture they painted when they were chasing down the sales.
I have included the email link for the project manager and would urge anyone or preferably everyone that is buying in to The Ivy to contact him and make your concerns his problem, after all you paid, and waited a long time ( 9 months overdue on title for the wetlands ) to get this far so let's not them do a "cut and run".

phill@kwhiteman.com

Email from Phill Cabret
If by ‘trotting track’ you are referring to the ‘bike safety fence’ this is a requirement forming part of the endorsed detail design. This is to remain in place for the safety of the residents to prevent young cyclists accidently riding into the wetland.

Reply
Thanks for getting back to me but seriously that has to be the ugliest way of getting around "the problem". As you know the blocks around the wetland were sold at a premium
and to run that thing around the water does not reflect that, and shows a lack of consideration for the residents that have to look at it on a daily basis.
There are other ways of achieving the same result that would be better suited to the area.
What has been done looks like a " cut and run".

In your reply there was no mention of the landscape plan... do you have one?

Butterman · Oct 09, 2017 8:13 pm

That's great, good on you. My conveyancer tried repeatedly to get in touch them and was given the same consideration ( that is none) until they wanted to be paid. Since my post here, I have been told that all further correspondence is to go to Rhonda theivy@rpmrealestate.com.au to which I received one condescending reply. I'm not letting it go and would urge everybody that has purchased land in the ivy to hold these people accountable. If you have purchased and are waiting on title etc; visit the development before settlement to keep an eye on them. They won't supply their landscape plan for the wetlands but I'm being told to follow landscape guidelines for my own garden, which are unrealistic due to the square meterage and the quantity of trees/shrubs they're wanting crammed into that space.
I wonder if the $5000 cash back will be forthcoming if we fall short of that requirement.
The "cheapness " of one section impacts the tone of the whole development and ultimately the value of your property.
I am waiting on a reply from Whittlesea council in the hope of access to the landscape plans
Let these people know they can't take your money and walk away.

Rhonda: theivy@rpmrealestate.com.au
Phill Cabret: phill@kwhiteman.com
Rod Anderson: rod@rpmrealestate.com.au

David_L · Oct 10, 2017 9:49 am

Hi Guys, Just saying a hello. We recently purchased a block in Stage 8B. Although we have a wait on our hands, I love how there is already a little community here talking about all relevant topics. Keep up the good work.

SAW · Oct 10, 2017 8:00 pm

Butterman

That's great, good on you. My conveyancer tried repeatedly to get in touch them and was given the same consideration ( that is none) until they wanted to be paid. Since my post here, I have been told that all further correspondence is to go to Rhonda theivy@rpmrealestate.com.au to which I received one condescending reply. I'm not letting it go and would urge everybody that has purchased land in the ivy to hold these people accountable. If you have purchased and are waiting on title etc; visit the development before settlement to keep an eye on them. They won't supply their landscape plan for the wetlands but I'm being told to follow landscape guidelines for my own garden, which are unrealistic due to the square meterage and the quantity of trees/shrubs they're wanting crammed into that space.
I wonder if the $5000 cash back will be forthcoming if we fall short of that requirement.
The "cheapness " of one section impacts the tone of the whole development and ultimately the value of your property.
I am waiting on a reply from Whittlesea council in the hope of access to the landscape plans
Let these people know they can't take your money and walk away.

Rhonda: theivy@rpmrealestate.com.au
Phill Cabret: phill@kwhiteman.com
Rod Anderson: rod@rpmrealestate.com.au

thejuros · Oct 10, 2017 8:07 pm

When do they actually have to finish the landscaping of the wetlands?
We are directly opposite it on Lincoln way, I would have thought that it would have to of been completed when all of our blocks in stage 2 were!?

SAW · Oct 11, 2017 4:06 pm

thejuros

When do they actually have to finish the landscaping of the wetlands?
We are directly opposite it on Lincoln way, I would have thought that it would have to of been completed when all of our blocks in stage 2 were!?

Butterman · Oct 11, 2017 4:27 pm

I have asked 3 times for their landscape plan and when they intended to start but of course I get no reply.
As to when they are going to finish I'd guess it's their usual " mind your own business ".
No accountability.

Saw made the point:
I personally think the best solution would be to remove the shared path from the eastern side completely, like they have on the western side. This would remove the need for the guard rail.

I'd like to see it gone. It's hardly a high traffic area.

CatRose · Oct 11, 2017 9:04 pm

Hi David, we just purchased in 8B too! Enjoying following this forum to see how things are progessing. Rhonda told us it should be titled by August 2018 but I’m estimating a bit of a delay given what I’ve seen here so far..

David_L · Oct 12, 2017 9:27 am

Hello CatRose, Welcome neighbour. Yeah she mentioned the same, however I would like to believe it will be much earlier due to the fact extensive planning and approval has already been done, and other stages are coming online soon. But thats just my 2 cents.

CatRose · Oct 12, 2017 4:16 pm

David_L

Hello CatRose, Welcome neighbour. Yeah she mentioned the same, however I would like to believe it will be much earlier due to the fact extensive planning and approval has already been done, and other stages are coming online soon. But thats just my 2 cents.

Oh I really hope you’re right! And 8B is such a small stage too. So it would be nice if things got moving a bit quicker! Trying not to get our hopes up!

wale · Oct 17, 2017 8:58 am

Guys sorry to be brutally honest here, but prepare yourself for delays and don’t get your hopes up. I’m in stage 2 and we titled mid August of this year. Was originally told nov 2016 then it was feb 2017 then it was March, then June... well I’m sure you get the jist. Luckily the title delays didn’t affect the contract price of my house. Goodluck to all.