Regatta Waters tees up milestone

Regatta Waters Whitsundays lifestyle community has reached another milestone while expanding the region’s recreational offering with the opening of its golf driving range.The driving range marks the return of golfing facilities to the Airlie Beach area and the first stage of the $500 million community’s professionally designed golf course.Regatta Waters Whitsundays project marketing manager Steve Marks said that aside from being an asset for the project, the driving range would provide an affordable land-based activity for the ocean-focussed region’s residents and visitors.“As an iconic tourist destination the Whitsundays has been in need of more land-based recreational pursuits for some time,” he said.“There’s a big focus on water but not so much on land, so this facility will go some way towards addressing that deficit.”First to try out the driving range were Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen and State Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan who took part in a longest drive competition last week.Mr Costigan was triumphant with a drive of around 180 metres and in recognition of his win, Regatta Waters developer Latitude Development Group (LDG) will donate $500 to the St Vincent de Paul Society at Cannonvale for their 2014 Christmas Appeal.Above: Jason Costigan, George Christensen and Steve Marks Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Jenny Whitney, who also practiced her swing on the driving range, said the driving range was a fantastic asset for the tourism industry and the local community.“I know many locals and tourists alike will take advantage of another great land-based activity in the Airlie Beach area,” she said.“It shows great progress for the whole Regatta Waters project and the local area to see the driving range open and I know it will be a great boost to the area.”Above: Jenny WhitneyThe driving range complements already completed recreational space within Regatta Waters Whitsundays including parkland, walking trails and manmade lakes.Mr Marks said the facility had been highly anticipated by first stage buyers at Regatta Waters.“While some developers have promised much and delivered little, LDG is rolling out community facilities from the beginning of the project,” he said.A practice green is currently under construction and will be complete in six to eight weeks.The driving range will be open every day from 6am to 6pm.Remaining blocks in the first stage of Regatta Waters Whitsundays range in size from 613sqm to 1010sqm and are priced from $170,000, while house-and-land packages are available from $475,000.When complete, Regatta Waters Whitsundays will have 2500 residential lots complete with retail, commercial and lifestyle components including the golf course.