Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Building Bonuses are available?

   The next 4 purchasers will be eligible to receive a Building Bonus up to $150,000.  The bonus will be payable either at settlement or at the first progress payment of building, depending on when you sign your building contract. 

2. What are the Prices for each lot?  Click here for Estate Plan & Price List.

3. When can I expect settlement to occur?

   Settlement will occur as soon as the relevant conditions of the Western Australian Planning Commission are satisfied. We are aiming for settlement to occur by 1 July 2011, however under clause 9 of the Sale of Land contract, settlement must occur no later than 16 January 2012.

4. Can I use my lot as security for a loan?

   Legally, yes you can use your lot as security for a loan. However this will ultimately be determined by your lending institution.

5. When can I build on my lot?

   Once settlement has taken place you can apply to the Shire of Manjimup for building approval.

   The perennial agricultural component of your lot must be established prior to you commencing construction of your residence. The following lots already have existing crop established: Lots 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20. It is anticipated that the planting of the remaining lots will occur over the next two years.

6. There is no time limit on when you must build on your lot.

7. Can I design my own house?

   Yes. As an owner you are afforded significant flexibility in designing a house to fit with the beautiful natural surroundings. The building and design guidelines reflect a strong commitment to sustainable living designs and encourage natural colours and textures to fit within the 'Australian Rural Living' theme of the development.

   Owners are required to submit plans to the Council of Owners (Strata Company) prior to lodgement with the Shire of Manjimup.

8. Can I live at Eastbrook Vineyard Estate permanently?

   Yes. There are no restrictions preventing you from occupying your residence on a permanent, part-time or holiday basis.

9. Can I rent my residential property to others?

   Yes, there is no restriction to prevent you from renting out your property. Owners will be responsible for any costs associated with renting out the property (e.g. cleaning, electricity use etc).

10. What services are provided to the lots?

    The following services will be available to lot owners at Eastbrook Vineyard Estate.

    • 240 Volt, 5 kVA electricity connection;
    • Standard telephone connection;
    • Non-potable water allocation of 100,000 litres per annum (for garden usage). Owners are required to install, at their cost, a tank (minimum volume of 1.5 kl) as the holding reservoir for storing non-potable water;
    • Regular Rubbish collection and disposal service.

    The cost of the water allocation and rubbish collection service are covered by the annual strata fee (refer to question 16.)

11. What additional services are available?

    Additional services include:

    • ADSL connection (via satellite or wireless) is available. Individual owners are responsible for arranging this and payment of any costs associated with the connection.
    • Lawn mowing and garden maintenance. Owners are responsible for these costs.

12. What water is available for use in the house?

    Eastbrook Vineyard Estate receives approximately 1,100mm of rainfall per annum. Owners are required to install, at their cost, a tank (minimum volume of 103kl) to be utilised as a 'collect-and-use' reservoir. As an example, a house with a roof area of 250m2 could potentially capture 275kl of rain water per annum. This is more than adequate under normal usage conditions.

13. What are the effluent treatment arrangements?

    The soils at Eastbrook Vineyard Estate have been independently tested and approved for the use of several effluent treatment systems. These include the installation of a standard tank and leech drain system or the installation of aerobic treatment units (ATU's). We are happy to provide you with additional information on these alternatives.

14. What about the risk of a bushfire?

    Eastbrook Vineyard Estate has a comprehensive Fire Management Plan which aims to reduce the threat to residents and fire fighters in the event of a bush fire within or near the site.

    The plan includes the following fire management measures:

    • Strategic Firebreaks
    • Location of water sources and storage (domestic and fire fighting)
    • Fuel Reduction
    • Building Protection Zones
    • Hazard Separation Zones
    • Driveways

15. Can I keep a horse?

    No. Neither the residential, horticultural/agricultural or common property components are able to accommodate a horse or any other livestock (apart from vineyard management purposes).

16. What about a dog or other pets?

    Yes. Owners are allowed to keep domestic pets such as a dog, cat, chickens or the like. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that their pets are kept on their residential lot and prevented from entering the surrounding Diamond State Forest or roaming unsupervised on the entire property.

17. What are the strata fees?

    The strata fees vary slightly depending on the actual area of your lot. The average estimated annual strata fees are currently $1,500 per annum.

18. Can I hire the gazebo for private functions?

    The gazebo on the main lake is a fantastic feature of Eastbrook Vineyard Estate and is available for all lot owners to enjoy. It is available for private functions, however to reserve this area for your sole use (which will exclude other owners using the facility at that time) you must book the venue through the property manager. A fee of $250 applies for a 24 hour period (the standard fee is $1,000 for non-owners).

19. Can I fish or marron from the lake?

    Yes. As an owner of Eastbrook Vineyard Estate you are entitled to enjoy all that the property has to offer including trout and marron fishing from the picturesque main lake. Owners are required to adhere to the bag limits (8 marron and/or 2 trout per day per lot).

    While a fisher's licence is not required to catch and consume marron from the property, owners are advised to adhere to the specific fishing laws of the Department of Fisheries when taking marron from the property. For more information visit this link.

20. How does the agricultural enterprise work?

    When you purchase a lot you are buying both a residential lot of approximately 2,000m2 and an agricultural lot of approximately 20,000 m2 (2 hectares). As an owner you become a member of the Strata Company which owns the Common Property and is ultimately retains control over the property.

    An important aspect of Eastbrook Vineyard Estate is that all agricultural lots are managed as one enterprise by a professional farm manager. To affect this, your agricultural lot is leased to the Strata Company.

    The Strata Company will lease the agricultural lots to a professional farm manager who will manage the property as one enterprise with the aim of making a profit. 50 per cent of any profit will be paid to the Strata Company and distributed to the owners in proportion of their ownership.

21. What profit distribution can I expect each year?

    There are many factors that determine the profitability of an agricultural enterprise such as Eastbrook Vineyard Estate. These include input costs such as fertiliser and pest management and labour costs, as well as production levels and price. These factors are uncertain, with particular risk on production levels and price.

    The forecast profitability for 2010 cropping season is $50,000. If this were to be achieved, owners would receive a distribution of approximately $1,250 per lot.

    Over the next two years, it is intended to plant the unplanted agricultural lots and it is anticipated that the profitability of the enterprise will continue to improve in the long term.

22. Could I lose money from the agricultural component? Will I be required to contribute additional funds each year?

    The initial lease arrangement to the property manager is on a profit-share basis, however in the event that the enterprise does not make a profit, owners will not be required to contribute any additional funds. The lease is for a five year period and will be renegotiated at the end of the period.

    In the event that a similar lease arrangement is not obtained after five years, the owners will become responsible for the profit and loss of the enterprise.

23. Can I manage my own agricultural lot myself?

    No. The agricultural component of Eastbrook Vineyard Estate is to be managed as one enterprise for the benefit of all owners.

24. Can I produce my own wine and/or truffles from the estate?

    Owners are welcome to purchase produce from the estate at market prices. The property manager is available to assist owners to produce their own wine. Owners will be responsible for all associated costs.