CADRE acquires 3.42ha landholding in Grafton NSW, thinks ‘outside the box’ with sustainable LFR plans

The Tyas Family’s Real Estate Development arm, CADRE has this week announced the acquisition of a 3.42ha landholding at 21 Through Street, Grafton, in the Northern Rivers of NSW for a new $70M Gateway Regional Centre in Clarence Valley Council.

This acquisition continues CADRE’s expansion into Northern Rivers of NSW, and across Australia into regional centres via communities, centres and large format retail developments.

Commercial space is hard to come by in the area, with neighbouring centres occupied by the likes of Bunnings, Supercheap Auto, Autobarn, Anytime Fitness, BCF, BP, McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and Subway.

CADRE saw an opportunity to add other national brands to the mix and has already secured approximately 50% of the space with pre-committed national tenants such as, Total Tools and Carls Jnr. The plans set out a vision to create a place where locals can come for food, tools, household goods and convenience retail.

The group is in advanced conversations with a variety of businesses spanning lifestyle products, sporting goods, medical, childcare and food and beverage including food trucks.

The site is ideally located at the gateway to Grafton, being a sensitive piece of land for the community and council. On the Southern approach of the new Grafton Bridge, offering a prominent location with high daily traffic flows.

The Tyas Family has submitted plans for a large format retail project at this location which is set to become the region’s largest regional town centre.

“We have been working with senior members at council who have been instrumental in the design rational, assisting us in pushing the traditional ways of thinking about user experience, urban design, landscaping and impact driven initiatives. Creating something beyond a big box retail building you may find in areas like Coffs Harbour, Ballina or Tweed Heads,” said CADRE Co-Director Nicholas Tyas.

“Being a gateway site we knew we had to work with a team we know and trust, who could see our vision through. We have therefore appointed Planners North, leading architects Bruce Henderson Architects and local landscape architect LARC. This team will bring international design with local flora and fauna to soften the design and complement the local heritage and urban context,” he continued.

The result is an out of the box LFR design which shuns bright bold colours, dominant signage and bare concrete walls in favour of steel members which give a nod to the old Grafton Bridge, public art and dense local planting and vertical gardens.

As a group, CADRE is passionate about making a positive contribution to the Northern Rivers community and has embedded strong sustainability credentials into their plans.

“The centre will have a low carbon footprint. We’ll be using recycled materials where possible, increasing Jacaranda trees to reduce heat island effect on the carpark, including solar and EV charging,” said CADRE Co-Director, Christopher Tyas.

In conjunction with Grafton Regional Gallery, CADRE will run a local public art competition for the central spine mural which will be located at the outdoor arcade where the food trucks will be positioned.

CADRE is also leading the way in the residential market with MATTONE by CADRE, which sold out fast in Richmond, appealing to environmentally conscious families and second home buyers looking for sustainable design. The project is being future-proofed as a fossil fuel-free development, adoption of passive house principles targeting a NATHERS rating of 7.0, with 2.5kW solar PV systems located on the roof of each townhouse and provisions for electric vehicle charging.

CADRE has retail centres, commercial offices, residential and land communities across Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. The family’s building arm, Tycorp Construction builds the bulk of the group’s investments.