Gold Coast property professionals Jared Johnson and Zac Potter have teamed up to launch their debut property development, Basalt Lane, a boutique collection of architecturally designed warehouse units set to rise in Tweed Heads South.

Potter, a proven developer in his own right, is the founder of 21 Property Group and son of respected developer John Potter, while Johnson, director of leading commercial real estate agency Coastal Commercial, has been involved in hundreds of high-profile industrial transactions across South-East Queensland and Northern NSW.&nbsp;

Located at 80–82 Industry Drive, Basalt Lane will feature just eight premium warehouse units with flexible low-impact zoning, rare dual street access, and sleek, contemporary finishes not often seen in the Industrial sector. Construction is scheduled to commence in Q4 2025.

“This joint venture made sense from day one,” says Johnson, who is spearheading the sales campaign.

“Zac brings proven development experience, and I have a strong grasp of the local industrial market through years of commercial sales in the area. By combining our strengths, we saw an opportunity not just for ourselves — but to deliver something the local community genuinely needs. There’s a clear demand for modern, flexible, and flood-free industrial spaces in this region, and Basalt Lane is our answer to that.”

Strategically positioned just 700 metres from the M1 Motorway and under 10 minutes from Gold Coast Airport, the project offers high appeal for investors, small business owners looking for a coastal work base with premium connectivity or a secure storage solution.

The launch of Basalt Lane comes amid a surge in industrial development across the Tweed region. According to Tweed Shire Council, the area is undergoing major transformation, including the Industry Central Land Swap, a government-backed initiative relocating flood-affected businesses to higher ground. The $11.3 million program is creating modern, job-generating industrial hubs built for long-term resilience.

Projects like Quarry Business Park, also marketed through Johnson’s Coastal Commercial — are also breaking ground in 2025 — highlight the growing demand for flood-free, future-proof industrial space in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional economies.

“We’re proud to be contributing to the next chapter of growth here,” said Potter. “Basalt Lane is a long-term play — it’s designed to deliver value now and remain relevant for years to come.”

The project responds to broader market trends, including the rise of flexible “co-warehousing”, demand for hybrid industrial-office spaces, and growing interest in regional coworking hubs. With Australia’s coworking sector forecast to grow at 23.6% CAGR to 2030, and similar small-scale developments selling out in major cities, Basalt Lane offers a timely, lifestyle-forward business solution.

Potter and Johnson bring years of experience across real estate and development throughout the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers corridor. For them, Basalt Lane represents more than just a business move — it’s a personal milestone.

“There’s no big fund behind us. We’re not a national group,” said Potter. “We’re two mates with experience and vision and we’re having a go.”

With limited supply and rising demand, Basalt Lane is expected to attract strong early interest from entrepreneurs, trade-based businesses, owner-occupiers, and investors seeking solid long-term returns in a high-growth coastal hub.

Jared Johnson and Zac Potter, have teamed up to launch their debut property development: Basalt Lane, Tweed Heads - a boutique collection of architecturally designed warehouse units set to rise in Tweed Heads South.

Urban Editorial

Gold Coast entrepreneurs launch premium industrial project in booming Tweed Heads South

Enfield may be home to fewer than 3,000 residents, but its prime location between Strathfield and Burwood has cemented its status as one of the Inner West’s hidden gems.

The suburb offers a village-style lifestyle with an abundance of cafés, restaurants, and boutique shops, staples of Inner West living.

At the last census, there were only around 300 apartments in the suburb. Fewer than a handful of new apartment developments have been delivered in recent years, but none are as well positioned as The Carlyle, just a three-minute walk to Henley Park, arguably one of the best parks in the area.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carlyle-enfield-164-liverpool-rd-enfield-nsw-2136">The Carlyle</a> will comprise 32 one- and two-bedroom apartments, a mix rarely seen in the new development market across Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148733 project_image_fid=6667]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/ray-white-projects-western-sydney">Ray White Projects WS</a>&nbsp;is fielding enquiry from several buyer types.

"First home buyers are realising this is the best time to get into the market," says Mark Bernberg, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/ray-white-projects-western-sydney">Ray White Projects WS</a>&nbsp;Managing Director.

"There are now several government incentives assisting first home buyers to get onto the property ladder. The recent announcement to waive lender's mortgage insurance for those with low deposits puts tens of thousands back in their pockets. Pair that with stamp duty savings in the new apartment space, and there has never been a better time to be a first home buyer in the off the plan apartment market."

Bernberg has also seen a re-emergence of investors, attracted to the low supply of apartments in Enfield and the suburb's lifestyle, while also being on the fringe of Burwood, which is set to undergo a huge transformation with its recent rezoning around the new metro station.

"That will bring a wealth of new retail and amenity to the area, which tends to drive prices higher," Bernberg says.

"Rents are at record highs, and with interest rates coming down from the highs earlier this year, investment apartments are starting to stack up again financially."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148733 project_image_fid=6665]

The Carlyle apartments will sit above doorstep amenity, with a two-level retail podium incorporated into the striking building. The retail component will include a new ground-floor café facing Carlyle Street.

Two-bedroom apartments range from 67 sqm to 83 sqm internally, with some of the larger residences on the top level featuring expansive wraparound balconies. These layouts are designed to enhance seamless indoor-outdoor living, maximising natural light and views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148733 project_image_fid=6666]

The Carlyle's proximity to Henley Park is one of its biggest drawcards. The 13-hectare park includes multiple sports fields, two fenced playgrounds designed for various age groups, and Enfield Aquatic Centre, complete with Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The Carlyle is on track to welcome residents in early 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6667]

Joel Robinson

The Carlyle in Enfield launches to undersupplied Inner West market

A new Metro stop, a thriving café scene, and proximity to village-style retail have cemented St Leonards as one of the Lower North Shore’s most sought-after suburbs for new development.

Among those seizing the opportunity is Sekisui House Australia, which has chosen this prized pocket, in the St Leonards South precinct, for its first-ever inner-city apartment project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/waterstone-st-leonards-24-berry-road-st-leonards-nsw-2065">Waterstone</a>.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134191 project_image_fid=230]

Set for completion in the summer of 2027, Waterstone comprises 207 apartments across five buildings, designed to look south back to the&nbsp;Sydney&nbsp;CBD.&nbsp;The new project offers residents the rare balance of connected urban living and tranquil green surrounds.

Just moments from home lies Smoothey Park, a blend of natural bushland and manicured parkland. It forms part of the Wollstonecraft cluster of reserves, including Gore Cove, Badangi Reserve, and Berry Island, all offering peaceful escapes on the Harbour’s edge.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCD5mtyKBjc?si=DcC6Koxg6shdDFzq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

When it comes to lifestyle, St Leonards and its neighbouring suburbs, Crows Nest, Waverton, Greenwich, and Wollstonecraft, deliver an endless array of cafés, restaurants, and boutique retailers. Nearby Mall 88, only 650 metres from Waterstone, adds convenience with over 30 specialty stores.

Connectivity is another major drawcard. The new Crows Nest Metro Station is just one kilometre away, while St Leonards Train Station is a short seven-minute walk. For a more scenic commute, the Greenwich Point Wharf ferry reaches Circular Quay in under 30 minutes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134191 project_image_fid=351953]

For peace of mind, Royal North Shore Hospital, one of Sydney’s most prominent medical hubs, sits just 650 metres away, making Waterstone ideal for healthcare professionals or residents seeking easy access to world-class medical facilities.

Perfectly positioned on the fringe of vibrant activity yet embraced by parkland serenity, Waterstone offers the best of both worlds in Sydney’s evolving Lower North Shore.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134191]

Nature and connection define life at Waterstone in emerging St Leonards South precinct

A new collection of residences is now available at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sol-by-walker-maroochydore-first-avenue-maroochydore-qld-4558">SOL by Walker</a>, the residential development that continues to take shape within the Maroochydore City Centre.

The second release introduces 137 apartments to the market, adding to the growing community in what is set to become one of South East Queensland’s most significant urban renewal precincts. The new offering includes a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a limited number of terraces and penthouses designed to suit a range of lifestyle needs.

“SOL represents the beginning of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/maroochydore-qld-4558">Maroochydore</a>’s exciting next chapter, redefining expectations around life in this beautiful coastal city,” David Gallant, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/walker-corporation">Walker Corporation</a>, said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=319853]

Located on South Sea Islander Way, SOL forms part of the broader vision to deliver a connected and vibrant city heart for the Sunshine Coast. Construction is already underway on the first 19-storey tower, with completion targeted for early 2028. The development is being delivered by Walker in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Council and SunCentral.

SOL’s second stage continues the project’s focus on high-quality apartment living, with access to a suite of resident-only amenities including a rooftop sky terrace, wellness retreat, co-working lounge, gym and landscaped garden spaces.

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> combine timeless design with natural materials, generous layouts and panoramic outlooks to the ocean, hinterland and river.&nbsp;

“SOL by Walker establishes a new standard in apartment quality, seamlessly integrating superior craftsmanship with unmatched design,” Danny Juric, Director at Plus Studio, said

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147777 project_image_fid=346899]

Apartments feature open-plan layouts with high ceilings and expansive glazing to enhance natural light and ventilation.&nbsp;

A warm, neutral palette ties together stone benchtops, brushed platinum accents, and sandstone-toned carpet, while large sliding doors connect living areas to generous outdoor spaces.&nbsp;

Kitchens are fitted with integrated Miele appliances, refined cabinetry and thoughtful storage, while bathrooms offer double vanities and oversized showers to balance function and comfort.

As part of the Sunshine Coast’s new CBD, residents will be within walking distance of local retail, dining and green space, with transport connections set to expand as the precinct grows. Once complete, Maroochydore City Centre is expected to deliver thousands of new homes as part of the region’s long-term housing strategy.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147777]

Second release at SOL by Walker expands residential offering in Maroochydore City Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mirvac">Mirvac</a> has marked the topping out of Prince &amp; Parade in Brunswick, celebrating the completion of the building’s highest point and a major step forward for one of the developer’s landmark Melbourne communities.

The milestone forms part of Mirvac’s strong construction momentum across Victoria, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/prince-parade-by-mirvac-brunswick-701-park-street-brunswick-vic-3056">Prince &amp; Parade</a> and The Albertine both recently reaching structural completion. Together, the two projects will deliver 265 new apartments, contributing to much-needed housing supply in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4802 project_image_fid=3627]

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart</a>, Prince &amp; Parade continues a long-standing partnership that has delivered The Melburnian (2002) and The Eastbourne (2019).

The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick</a> address comprises a mix of one to four-bedroom residences complemented by extensive amenity, including a residents’ lounge, shared dining room and kitchen, library, yoga room, gym, and rooftop terrace, with landscaping by Jack Merlo and a concierge service.

Construction is rapidly transforming the site, with significant milestones achieved across two buildings, supported by 73 slab pours and six fully constructed building cores. Completion is expected in 2026.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4802 project_image_fid=269383]

Mirvac’s General Manager, Residential Development Victoria, Elysa Anderson said Prince &amp; Parade has been strongly received by buyers seeking quality design and trusted delivery.

“These communities have been well received, attracting strong interest from downsizers and professionals who value high-quality design, premium locations and the confidence of buying with Mirvac,” Anderson said.

Prince &amp; Parade has also achieved a record-breaking apartment sale in Brunswick, underscoring its design quality and market appeal.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Prince &amp; Parade set a new benchmark for Brunswick. This <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/exclusive-mirvac-breaks-brunswick-record-with-prince-parade-sale">record-breaking sale</a> is a testament to Mirvac’s design excellence, quality craftsmanship, and our strong reputation for delivering high-quality residential communities across the country,” Anderson said.

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Prince & Parade tops out in Brunswick as Mirvac marks dual Melbourne milestones

Nicolette Van Wijngaarden

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Nicolette van Wijngaarden, 45, the founder of the boutique estate agency Unique Estates, has been sentenced to more than three years in jail for trust fund account fraud.
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Van Wijngaarden was charged after she went to NSW Fair Trading who then calculated she misused $3.69 million between 2016 and early 2018.
Van Wijngaarden was sentenced to three years and six months jail by Judge John Pickering on Thursday, with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.
Van Wijngaarden – whose main offices where in Byron Bay, Sydney and Melbourne – told the court she made “the very stupid mistake” when taking money from the trust account out of desperation not to let anyone down.
Judge Pickering noted he wanted the real estate industry to know that those committing trust account offences would not escape jail time. 
Her amount was the biggest real estate fraud in New South Wales real estate history.
"There has to be conformity before the law and there has to be general deterrence," Judge Pickering said.
Her clients included Chris Hemsworth and Collette Dinnigan, who was among the victims.
Unique Estates was started in 2009.
Van Wijngaarden will be eligible for parole on August 20, 2021.
“I stupidly thought I could pay it back,” she told the court in September.
She faced up to 10 years in jail.
Thinking the cash flow issues were short-term and seasonal, she claimed any lavish expenses, including the cars, flowers and travel were tied to the business.
“I’m completely devastated that I’m sitting here today, horrified that people have been let down,” she said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Nicolette van Wijngaarden jailed for trust fund account fraud

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Estate agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden told her pre-sentence hearing last Friday that an unnamed Byron Bay billionaire had pulled out of his proposed bailout of her boutique agency just days before its February 2018 collapse.
Van Wijngaarden has pleaded guilty to trust account fraud, with the Crown saying she misused $3.69 million of client funds from May 2016 to February 2018.
“I stupidly thought I could pay it back,” she told the court. She will be sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court in late November, when she faces up to 10 years in jail.
Thinking the cash flow issues were short-term and seasonal, she claimed any lavish expenses, including the cars, flowers and travel were tied to the business.
“I’m completely devastated that I’m sitting here today, horrified that people have been let down,” she said.
Fashion designer Collette Dinnigan was one of van Wijngaarden’s clients who was caught up in the agency’s collapse, with the deposit on the sale of her South Coast property not in the trust fund when the NSW Fair Trading Department stepped in.
Van Wijngaarden told the court she only paid herself $12,000 in commissions in the nine years after founded Unique Estates in 2009.
She was entitled to commission from 94 of the company’s 115 sales over the following years, she told her barrister Frank Coyne.
He said van Wijngaarden had made every effort to address the shortfalls; forgoing commission – she estimates she kept only $12,000 commission over almost nine years – seeking bank loans and equity from investors.
When she could not fix the problem she reported herself to NSW Fair Trading and assisted the authorities. The court also heard the ordeal had ruined her marriage and any lavish expenses were tied to the business.
She told the court the billionaire had backed out of the $4 million bailout after speaking to his solicitor.
The global businessman, who had been a client of the estate agent and then a friend, had also been hesitant as he had been subject to his own issues with the ATO.
The estate agency had a $5 million turnover in its final year, the court was told.
Van Wijngaarden’s is the largest case of real estate trust fraud in NSW history, with victims including property sellers and rental property landlords — who have since received their entitlements from the NSW taxpayer-funded compensation fund.
Her trust account fraud - being an real estate agent - was not as serious breach of trust as that committed by lawyers and accountants, the court heard from her barrister.
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Her barrister made a submission to his honour that it was not as "clear cut" as other frauds.
Coyle argued the case “was one of those rare occasions where greed was never the motivation.”
“Greed takes all forms,” Judge John Pickering responded quickly.
"A motivating factor was a continuation of her business … it wasn’t as if there was no benefit to her,” his honour said.
“It’s not the worst form of greed you see in some of these fraud matter but there is still an aspect of self-gratification to it all,” he said, noting there was a certain level of "ego" being the head of a boutique high-end real estate agency.
"It's a complex matter and I do agree it has some unusual features to it as she [Ms van Wijngaarden] isn't the classic single-minded fraudster," said Judge John Pickering in the Sydney district court.
"But when you sell or buy Sydney homes, an extraordinary amount of money is put in the trust of real estate agents and for most people never in their lives would they trust that much money to anyone ... so I wonder why a breach of trust by a solicitor is more serious than a breach of trust by a real estate agent?"
Judge Pickering noted the NSW taxpayers had to pay for the lost funds.
The prosecution noted that every dollar van Wijngaarden took from the trust funds was “a dollar she needn’t have considered spending from her own pocket”.
Ms van Wijngaarden's lawyer said she used trust deposits between 2016 and 2018 to "save" her cash-strapped business and had every intention of repaying the money by raising funds through investors.
Ms van Wijngaarden said she turned herself in, then assisted with investigations and tried to sell the business' assets, including a $1.2 million luxury holiday home rent roll, an act that should reduce her sentence, her lawyer said.
She alleged the administrators scuppered attempt to sell the rent roll, and the sales business, which she through had a $2 million value.
The Crown solicitor said Ms van Wijngaarden had turned herself in only to save herself from being sued by angry buyers whose deposits had disappeared.
She gave evidence that her actions were a desperate attempt not to let staff and clients down.
“I made the very stupid mistake of taking money from the trust but I genuinely felt I was going to be able to put that back,” she told the court. “It was out of pure desperation to not let anyone down,” she later said.
“Everything I’ve ever done I’ve done for other people,” she said.
After she turned to the trust fund in May 2016, she avoided having the business audited.
“When I first did it I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but I thought I’d be able to put it back,” she said.
But “it snowballed”.
The prosecution emphasised that the agent knew what was the right thing to do having seen her first business endeavour, a marketing company collapse after her main client failed to pay its account.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Estate agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden explains her trust fund fraud

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The luxury real estate agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden has pleaded guilty to real estate trust fund fraud.
She will be sentenced next month at the Sydney Downing Centre.
Van Wijngaarden founded Unique Estates in 2009 which specialized in luxury property, particularly around Byron Bay, before the boutique agency expanded across the country.
Fashion designer Collette Dinnigan was caught up in the messy February 2018 collapse of the Unique Estates Australia agency following the sale of her NSW South Coast property.
The 5 percent deposit for Dinnigan's Milton $2.1 million was unaccounted for, with the NSW Fair Trading Department stepped in cover the $105,000 deposit that Vaucluse buyers had paid into the trust fund.
All NSW vendors are covered by the Property Services Compensation Fund.
After the company collapsed in February 2018, van Wijngaarden faced charges following an investigation by forensic accountants.
She faces up to 10 years in prison having allegedly misused $3.69 million.
Her bail included her surrendering her two passports under strict bail conditions.
The agency published the magazine Unique Luxury, which was distributed in Qantas lounges across the country.  
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The agency collapsed with restructuring specialists McGrathNicol app­ointed as joint managers by the NSW Department of Fair Trading.
NSW Fair Trading and McGrathNicol reported to creditors that there were "insufficient funds to pay amounts outstanding and in these circumstances there is a statutory compensation fund that may cover your outstanding claims.”
This article was first published in the Daily Telegraph.
 
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Estate agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden pleads guilty to trust fund fraud

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The founder of Unique Estates, Nicolette van Wijngaarden, faces up to 10 years jail if found guilty of the fraud charges following the collapse of her national estate agency.
The 15 charges were laid after an investigation by forensic accountants.
The NSW Department of Finance told The Echo, her local Byron Bay newspaper, that Ms van Wijngaarden, 44, was currently on bail, due to appear for mention in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on November 8.
It was front page news today in the town newspaper.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/25/echo.jpg" alt="">
The 44-year-old faces five counts under section 211(2) of the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002, allegations that relate to fraudulently converting money from a business for a person’s own individual use.
Ms Winjgaarden is also facing 10 charges of fraud under the NSW Crimes Act 1900.
The Department of Finance said the total quantum of money involved in all charges alleged is in excess of $3.5 million.
Unique Estates was founded by Ms van Wijngaarden in Byron Bay in 2009 as a boutique agency dealing with luxury properties.
It expanded significantly in the ensuing years to include offices in Albert Park, Double Bay, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Hong Kong.
The agency published the magazine Unique Luxury, which was distributed in Qantas lounges across the country.
The agency collapsed in February.
The ATO emerged among the biggest creditors.
"Bank accounts are frozen and there are no funds," was the blunt message to staff as McGrath Nicol was appointed joint managers by the NSW Department of Fair Trading
The agency had won a string of awards over the years including the Best Real Estate Agency Website for Asia Pacific 2017-2018 at the International Property Awards Grand Final Ceremony held in London.
It is not the first time a high-flying Byron agent has been caught up in trust account issues.
The now defunct Byron Bay real estate agency Belle Property was the subject of an earlier investigation by the Department of Fair Trading.
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Nicolette Van Wijngaarden

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