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Family dream fades away Lifestyle development on hold

30 Jun, 2009 02:06 PM
THE global financial crisis has officially reached the shire with construction of facilities at Bingara Gorge put on hold until the tough times have passed.

One family is furious over the ``broken promises'' but Bingara Gorge estate project director Paul Gerlach said careful decisions would mean the company could deliver on its vision.

Residents Shane and Tina Darley bought their property at Bingara in 2007 but now believe the prestigious lifestyle of their dreams was fading away.

Mrs Darley said her family was upset the construction of the golf course, scheduled to begin last year, was put on hold. ``By 2010 we were supposed to have a completed golf course and country club, primary school, child-care centre and village centre,'' she said.

``And by now we should also have been connected to natural gas and have recycled water but that hasn't happened either.''

Mr Gerlach said since Delfin announced its intentions last August the world has experienced unprecedented economic turmoil.

``As a result, prudent management of cash and careful decision-making has been required that's affected timing decisions on the delivery of the golf course,'' he said.

``In doing this we'll be able to deliver on our vision for Bingara Gorge.''

Mr and Mrs Darley said they were concerned that the value of their property dropped when the golf and leisure facilities were put on hold.

``We bought our block for $230,000 in 2007 and next door, which is the same size, is now on the market for $185,000,'' Mrs Darley said.

``We bought here for the prestigious lifestyle and now they're pushing three-bedroom, single-garage homes for first-home buyers.''

Mr Gerlach said the team at Bingara Gorge launched its marketing campaign to raise awareness of the community and boost land sales.

``Today's property market is very different to 18 months ago when initial sales on the project commenced and we've seen even greater changes over the past six to nine months with the impact of the global financial crisis affecting consumer confidence,'' he said. ``Like most businesses, Delfin is responding to these challenging times by ensuring it has the correct product and pricing structures for the market.

``The campaign has paid off and the past four months has seen growing interest and sales at Bingara Gorge, which will benefit the growth of the whole community.''

Mrs Darley was also upset that building requirements had changed since her family built their home.

``When we moved here there were no single garages allowed on our street,'' she said. ``We also had to follow strict building and site requirements which are now just guidelines for the new-home buyers.''

Mr Gerlach said very minor amendments had been made to clarify guidelines but the high standard of building expected at the community remained unchanged.

``And Delfin Lend Lease has provided this resident with a golf and leisure package in good faith for free.''

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All residents were given the golf and leisure package. We moved to Bingara to have a golf course on our doorstep not to be given a membership to a golf course that is now half an hours drive away as "compensation". Our land price, at the time of purchasing, reflected that construction of the course and facilities were to begin in 2008- long before the economic downturn!
Posted by Deceived, 2/07/2009 8:50:41 PM
What about the promises they made to the residents of Wilton? When will the upgrade of the football field happen? Is this another Stonequarry?
Posted by Disillusioned, 2/07/2009 9:52:32 PM
As a potential buyer this residents sign has answered a lot of questions that the sales team are unwilling to address. Our decision to purchase will be based on the price of land which is a lot cheaper than 12 months ago and will be with the knowledge that the facilities are still years away.
Posted by Looking for land, 11/07/2009 7:48:15 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
It's a tragedy that this family had to suffer at the hands of a corporate developer ... before not baking the cake they were supposed to. A lesson learnt that a rural "lifestyle" can't be bought by the marketing & manufacturing of a corporate company. Bingara Gorge was & remains a horrible, pretentious set up like Macquarie Links at Campbelltown. On one side of the track that is original Wilton, you've got undeveloped & poorly conditioned roads, no public transport, lack of proper infrastructure and services of an already established village (that has been there for decades) which need to be addressed first and foremost before you accept the seemingly unrural and highly suburban development adjacent to it. It really goes beyond me that this "wonderful" council of ours is against McDonalds (a restaurant that is even found in the most rural, historical & cultured of towns ) at Picton yet supports & promotes sterile urban sprawl within the shire.
Posted by Disgusted, 19/08/2009 12:49:32 AM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
We have looked at buying at Bingara Gorge for years now. Neat & tidy estate, larger land sizes, Telstra smart IT services, school, shops & Golf Course originally to open in 2010. Not much has happened since we were there first and without the Golf Course it is VERY overpriced. Sorry but we wont be buying there "on a promise".
Posted by Looking for lifestyle, 1/03/2010 1:02:39 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
Having just brought a block of land in the Bingara estate for many reasons one being the build up of traffic in our current area others being a part of a new community that residents will in time have a much broader say on the goings on within the estate I here that the house in question is having their gas supplied and payed for by delfin until natural gas is connected and it seems to me they have a case of sour grapes they jumped in early and as land has dropped which is usually the case with all new land releases the developer will start selling land at the highest price they think possible then it usually levels out at which time the majority of blocks will then sell quickly which seems to be the case in Bingara at the moment every time I look more and more block have deposit taken or sold signs on them i would think that the person who runs the facebook page Bingara Residents Association would be more about promoting new people to the area thus solving their problems and getting works underway for all Bingara residents, for myself I cant wait to move in and invite anyone interested Bingara to try the coffee at the beautiful cafe it's great
Posted by positively happy, 10/03/2010 9:35:57 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
To 'Positively Happy' yes all houses in Bingara Gorge are on bottled gas still and yes it is being paid for however natural gas was promised for 2008. A broken promise. Sour grapes you say, well yes it probably is (and we aren't the only ones). Well and truly soured by Delfin who promised to deliver a golf course, country club, shops, school and recycled water facility by 2010. When you visit Bingara Gorge do you see any of these under construction??? As for having a say - As community title fees do not come into force now until 2012 (if there is something to pay for) residents will not have a say in anything till then. In regards to the Bingara Gorge Residents page it is just that...for residents. It is not to promote Bingara to the public. Delfin do enough of that. It is for those who have bought, who are planning their homes, building or now living here. It evolved from a lack of communication from Delfin and as a way to build community relations and stay up to date. It is NOT censored to paint a rosy picture of life here. "Getting works underway"- that is all we want and have wanted for 3 years. I just hope you don't have to wait as long for the lifestyle you were sold.
Posted by Hopeful, 16/03/2010 8:09:44 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
I don't understand why a 'golf course' is at the top of the list for most people who want to move to Bingara Gorge! A golf course is a prime waste of resources (i.e. water) and destruction of native animals' habitats around the area. People should be moving to this area for the peace and tranquility that it has to offer, not to create even more useless holes in the landscape. However, since we have these corporations just greedy for cash, the more people who move here, the less peaceful and tranquil Wilton will be. The Campbelltown area has a lot more of these 'estates' and has all the golf courses one could desire..those who are complaining, should contemplate moving there. At least that way these useless estates can be cancelled and the natural beauty (trees - yes we need them!) can remain.
Posted by wilton resident, 3/04/2010 10:30:59 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
Calling all present and future residents at Bingarra, My husband and I are just about to finalise our purchase for land at Bingarra and over the last couple of weeks we are becoming very disillusioned about Delfin and its estates. I understand that Bingarra estate residents are not the only ones who have had their hearts broken and pockets emptied through Delfins careless promises. As a future resident we have alarms that are blasting us to stay away. However when we take that turn off the hume highway and we drive through wilton it just grabs us and its beauty and tranquilness is gorgeous. I must admit that affordability is one main reason that we ventured here, to finally build our own home for our growing family, to be close to beaches and national parks...its like a dream. What i really want to know is, is Wilton a great place to raise children, who then become teenagers, is their enough activities? We're stuck on the fence...big time! Any help appreciated?
Posted by Confused, 2/05/2010 9:25:00 AM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
To 'Confused' - connect with present and future residents of Bingara Gorge at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home #!/pages/Bingara-Gorge-Residents- Association/256512820149 and ask any questions you have.
Posted by Hopeful, 17/05/2010 8:12:53 PM, on Wollondilly Advertiser
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Not happy: Bingara Gorge residents have put up a sign to warn home-buyers about the estate's delay in infrastructure but project director Paul Gerlach said the company was making careful decisions so it could still deliver on its vision.Picture: Jonathan Ng
Not happy: Bingara Gorge residents have put up a sign to warn home-buyers about the estate's delay in infrastructure but project director Paul Gerlach said the company was making careful decisions so it could still deliver on its vision.Picture: Jonathan Ng

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