The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media 'Ice' seized as part of police drug raids in Gladstone and Tannum Sands in central Queensland. (Audience submitted: Qld Police) Link copiedShareShare articlePolice have arrested the alleged head of a central Queensland drug syndicate after an eight-month investigation. Officers raided several properties around Gladstone and Tannum Sands this week as part of their investigation, which has resulted in 38 people arrested on more than 100 charges. During the raids, police recovered 12 firearms, four Tasers, 430 grams of 'ice' worth about $100,000, seized $96,000 in cash and found property suspected of being stolen, including building equipment, machinery, jewellery and electrical equipment. "To date we have arrested 38 persons on 117 charges," Detective Inspector Lance Vercoe said. One of the guns seized during the central Queensland drug raids. (Audience submitted: Qld Police) "Five persons arrested on trafficking in amphetamines and cannabis. "The primary target has been remanded in custody on charges of trafficking in 'ice', supplying dangerous drugs, suppling drugs to a minor and using a carriage service device to procure a minor. "We expect further weapons-related charges to be laid prior to his next court appearance." A 29-year-old Tannum Sands man is due to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court today. Others arrested are due to face court on March 15. Police said more properties were likely to be searched today. Three rifles police seized in drug raids in Gladstone and Tannum Sands in central Queensland. (Audience submitted: Qld Police) CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) It is still possible to buy a home on a beer budget in beautiful Palm Cove but new analysis has found 19 champagne suburbs in Queensland where it is still possible to buy a property on a beer budget independent valuer Herron Todd White (HTW) has revealed the locations with options below the median home price — and within a short commute to the heart of town How you could save up to $68,000 on new home ‘Sleeper suburb’ one of Brisbane’s most affordable and liveable But buyers will have to make some compromises A two-bedroom unit in this complex at 12/769 Brunswick St Just 1.5km from Brisbane’s CBD and with the river on its doorstep New Farm is one of the city’s most desirable addresses The median house price in New Farm is $2.71m “Someone looking to spend $700,000 on a home would find something like 12/769 Brunswick Street on their shortlist,” Mr Notley said two-bath apartment with a large alfresco area Those with a true beer budget would have to seriously compromise on size one-car unit in a converted cottage which sold for $295,000 in January this year but also has a good size courtyard and patio too The unit is also generally well presented and appointed and you are still very accessible to all New Farm’s fabulous retail and lifestyle.” Next to New Farm is Brisbane’s most expensive suburb where demand is strong and supply is limited the area is usually well above most buyers’ budgets “This is fairly well located just off Macquarie Street but is a tiny home of very modest finish.” This two-bedroom house at 65 Kingsholme St although the median value was a reasonable $740,000 “There is a wide range of unit prices from modest one-bedders through to ultra-luxe riverfront “An example of a typical unit here is 110/38 Helen Street Teneriffe which sold for $700,000 in March one-bathroom unit under $300,000 is more your style.” He cited the sale of a unit at 304/38 Skyring Terrace for $290,000 as an example This four-bedroom house at 76 Winchester St Hamilton — and its renowned hill — is a go-to suburb for some of the deepest-pocketed buyers in Brisbane Mr Notley said a recent sale in the suburb representing a low buy-in price was 76 Winchester Street lowset colonial on 509 sqm of land,” he said “While the house would benefit from some general attention Units around the Portside Wharf precinct are still very affordable This two-bedroom unit at 4506/18 Parkside Circuit “A good example of what’s on offer around the median unit price of $505,000 is 4506/18 which sold in January this year for $520,000,” he said one-bathroom accommodation and is in a modern building with plenty of guest facilities.” Next door to Hamilton is the old-money suburb of Ascot where homes are a mix of contemporary architecture This two-bedroom unit at 6/37 Stevenson St There are plenty of units on offer as well with one at 6/37 Stevenson Street recently fetching $557,000 single-garage unit comes with a good size balcony and 117 sqm of floorspace “This type of property will not only be a great kickstarter unit for a first-time homebuyer but could also be retained as an investment and would see good demand from potential tenants,” Mr Notley said “There are options for anyone looking to buy affordably in desirable Brisbane suburbs Try to find good sized houses in need of some minor renovation or on decent sized allotments “If an apartment is more indicative of your budget This beachside town tucked away just south of the Queensland border is known for being a popular holiday destination and for offering a relaxed While prices in the suburb have exploded in the past few years the typical entry level price point for detached housing starts around $1.2m while prices for strata units generally start at $550,000 70 sqm apartment get snapped up in Pearl Street for $560,000 and this transaction is a great example of buying at the most affordable end of the market,” HTW associate director Sam Gray said A 1950s house on 575 sqm in the same street also recently sold for a relatively affordable $1.33m at 67 Pearl Street A one-bedroom unit in this complex at 18/1444 Gold Coast Highway About 20km north of Kingscliff is Palm Beach which has become one of the Gold Coast’s trendiest suburbs Mr Gray said a budget of $450,000 to $500,000 would typically buy an older style one-bathroom strata in a small complex with basic interior and basic common area improvements There is currently a studio apartment at 18/1444 Gold Coast Hightway available for offers over $365,000 Mr Gray said this suburb had been one of the most consistently sought-after locations “The attraction to the kind of lifestyle that Burleigh offers is very alluring which can be attributed to its world-renowned surfing beaches and popular James Street retail strip,” he said “Buying opportunities at the affordable end are often difficult to attain and a certain level of particularly when hunting for a freestanding house “Our recent online searches suggest that at the very bottom end property listings under $650,000 are fairly scarce.” One of the cheaper sales he has seen recently is that of an older style which fetched $522,500 in the Koala Park area at 6/10 Beelyu St a budget of $1.5m to $1.75m might get you a modest house within a five minute walk of the beach The home of ‘millionaire’s row’ — Hedges Ave — Mermaid Beach needs no introduction one-bedroom apartments have lately been selling in the low $400,000s A one-bedroom unit in this complex at 19/40-44 Ventura Rd is a good representation of absolute entry level into the Mermaid Beach market,” he said “The unit is situated in a circa late 1990s-built complex and sold in March this year for $425,000 in original condition An investor reportedly purchased the property and the unit has been recently advertised for rent with an asking price of $500 per week The bustling suburb of Broadbeach is also popular for its shopping For owner-occupiers and investors on a beer budget Mr Gray suggests looking at one-bedroom apartments under $500,000 and two-bedroom apartments under $700,000 with low body corporate costs and within walking distance of the central business area Broadbeach is a recently sold property which demonstrates buying on a budget,” he said two-bathroom walk-up strata unit sold in March for $670,000 The property is neat and tidy but in original condition and has one basement car space “There is a total of only six units within the complex and body corporate costs are very reasonable Another blue-chip Gold Coast suburb is the affluent Main Beach area which is only a few minutes’ drive north of Surfers Paradise Mr Gray said there was very limited stock in the area a strata unit at 11 Breaker Street changed hands for $625,000,” he said A two-bedroom unit in this complex at 5/33 Chelsea Ave a circa 1980s built complex approximately 200m from the beach “Similar style units within the development are reportedly achieving a weekly rent of $600 to $650 per week.” At the northern end of the Gold Coast is Paradise Point with its canal-fronting mansions and fantastic boating access older style complexes which presented as good entry level prospects “These types of units have been selling between say $450,000 and $500,000 of late (when stock is available),” he said “One similar style property which has just recently gone under contract is 2/59 Milton Avenue The circa 1979 built strata unit is reportedly being purchased for $475,000.” It was on the market with an asking price of $519,000 Palm Cove is a premier beachside locality and renowned tourist destination HTW director Danny Glasson said Palm Cove was intersected by the Captain Cook Highway and areas on the western side of the highway achieved significantly lower values than the eastern side due to its proximity to the beach and facilities “Entry level buy-in into eastern Palm Cove is around $750,000,” he said “A sale late last year at Terebra Street for $755,000 comprises the bottom of the market in this older beachside area known locally as The Golden Triangle.” Entry level prices in this stunning town on the coast of Gladstone for those on a beer budget sit around $400,000 “For this price you would expect an aged and basic timber cottage close to the beach and potentially with a distant or restricted ocean view,” HTW director Regan Aprile said one-bathroom timber dwelling is in fair to poor condition with a restricted ocean view from the 703 sqm block a number of these beer budget properties have been purchased as redevelopment sites with gentrification occurring in the area.” If a coastal lifestyle is your preference then Burnett Heads which is an ideal champagne location.According to realestate.com.au Bargara has a current median house price of $621,000 based on 177 sales over the past 12 months but there’s little to buy there on a beer budget The median house price for Burnett Heads is a more affordable $500,000 with nine properties currently listed for sale under that price point was on the market for offers above $370,000 “An entry level house in Burnett Heads with a current asking price of $370,000 is 40 Moffatt Burnett Heads,” HTW property valuer Megan Matteschek said high-set house that has been built-in underneath Some of the more sought-after areas in Mackay are located in the modern residential estates “Richmond Hills estate comprises large executive style dwellings selling from $700,000 and above there are scattered smaller dwellings that can be picked up for sub $600,000,” Ms Cook said “This will generally get you a smaller four-bedroom two-bathroom dwelling with limited ancillary improvements.” A house being constructed at Richmond Hills estate in the Mackay region Ms Cook said rural residential properties close to Mackay’s CBD were currently in high demand “In the champagne localities of Erakala and Habana When it comes to residential property in Emerald The Vines is arguably the most sought-after estate in town “The Vines is approximately 3.5km south of the Emerald CBD predominately owner-occupied area with high-quality in close proximity to schools and town,” Ms Blomfield said This four-bedroom house at 17 Brokenwood St two-car house in this area will generally have a shed pool or both and the median house price for properties in this area is $465,000.” A recent sale in the estate was at 17 Brokenwood Street The top locations in Townsville are suburbs within the 4810 postcode HTW valuer Adrian Bagent said the entry level value for North Ward was around $650,000 which would get a buyer an older style home in mostly original or poor condition A house listed for $549,000 at 65 Rose Street But Mr Bagent said the property was an older-style home in poor condition on a smaller 495sqm block “This would allow a buyer to purchase a home on a beer budget and be situated within however it would be on a smaller allotment and need plenty of renovation works to be completed to bring the home up to a good liveable standard.” The Rockhampton suburb of Rockyview is considered a champagne location in the area but buyers could compromise on extras to afford something on a beer budget there the suburb offers rural residential living with an acre or so of land and a pool and shed “If you can find a three-bedroom home without the pool or shed the entry-level price point would reduce to around $550,000 with the scope to add the pool and shed later as your budget allows with a low risk of overcapitalisation,” HTW associate director Cara Pincombe said A four-bedroom house on acreage at 11 Bunya Road is currently advertised for offers over $630,000 on the southern side of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton is full of grand Queenslanders in elevated locations But buyers would need to sacrifice views and size to afford an entry-level property in the suburb Ms Pincombe said purchasing vacant land was not an option for entry-level into the area so a dated two-bedroom unit for around $200,000 would represent the absolute entry level to The Range with limited detached housing available under $280,000 “Investors will likely find buying into these premium localities easier than owner-occupiers as rental returns are normally higher,” she said maintenance costs and depreciation benefits should also be considered.” third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. 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