This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
Brisbane based property developer APH and Flight Centre Limited founder Jim Goldburg have teamed up together to develop a luxury ski chalets in Japan.
The pair plans to develop six chalets, each featuring four bedrooms and three levels of living, in Hirafu Village at the Grand Niseko Ski Resort on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
The project which is APH’s first outside Australia will have an end value of $6.6 million.
APH’s managing director John Wilson said the joint venture with Goldburg, who now runs investment business the Friday Group, was borne out of a mutal passion for skiing.
“I was attracted to Niseko by the ease of access and because it is in the same time zone, which means no jet lag,” Wilson said. “But the best part is you are almost guaranteed quality snow. Niseko averages 15 metres of powder snow each year across its four vast ski areas and it is still relatively under-developed and cheap to ski there. It reminds me of places like Aspen 25 years ago.”
The joint venture partners decided to begin with a small project due to the area’s long winters and short summers.
“The challenge is to start construction as soon as the thaw allows and then get the project built in one summer,” Wilson said.
Chalets will be offered for sale this coming ski season and will be available for occupation in time for the 2007/08 ski season.
By Kathryn O’Meara