Heritage Lifestyle Park concept puts more holiday quality into time-out

The popular Chalet unit ranges from one to three bedrooms

Leisurebuilt Managing Director Brian Keeley leads an innovative company with a clever approach to put more Leisure Park time into the holiday lifestyle.

From the 64 Sunshine Ave base in Te Rapa, Hamilton Brian sees a socio-economic shift which has a strong and growing hold in Australasia.

The need is housing which is affordable across age and income groups. There also has to be a good life in the lifestyle. That includes interaction with others.

Brian sees this as like the village support system which comes with people who know each other and care enough to help each other. This is already part of  the caravan and motorhome lifestyle in New Zealand and Australia and translates easily into the Holiday Park environment.

The unknown is as the population ages how big a market the Heritage Lifestyle Park concept will tap.

Brian does not see lifestyle parks evolving to provide residential care for the elderly, but he believes that community can grow in a Heritage Lifestyle Park environment to provide a strong potential extended support system which comes with like-minded people who know and care about each other and the interests they share.

The Leisurebuilt Lifestyle Parks concept falls within two broad categories -

Residential and Leisure.

Brian Keeley says the time will come when the Residential component will be really significant in New Zealand, but this will be much more specific to small communities specifically developed for this purpose.

"We are working through the process for a number of these, but we have a lot of new ground to break", he said.

"They will, however, be the real answer to affordable homes and residences for a wide community group". "This is an answer that we simply do not have now and as the baby boomers get older this is a problem area for both New Zealand and Australia".

Editor's Note: Forget the silly advertising "humour" about spending the kids inheritance on  Boomer playtime. Many Boomers  already confront the double whammy of their own needs in retirement while being backup for extended families with multiple grandchildren. Add aged  parents, who are living much longer, to those challenges and "Family" takes on a whole new  meaning.

Brian Keeley of Leisurebuilt

"The Leisure Park concept is essentially the response to demand for quality leisure time and the need for answers to the higher expectations which fuel this demand", Brian Keeley said.

"Many Holiday Parks have the quality infrastructure and services to meet this need. So Leisurebuilt is working with a number of quality parks who are committed to improvement and expansion of facilities to cater for the Lifestyle concept that Leisurebuilt promotes".

"They are to be congratulated and we are sure this will go on to prove a win-win situation for all, Brian Keeley says.

"Leisurebuilt believes it is every New Zealand family’s right to have their own holiday unit (Bach if you like) either at the beach, the snow, the bush or where ever they like to retreat from the rat race".

"Obviously this dream has been shattered over recent years with the ever escalating cost of land at holiday locations. The Lifestyle option will not be for everyone but will certainly provide an affordable quality alternative for many, and it is this sector that we address".

"Our concept involves many holiday parks of New Zealand who suffer peaks and lows in their income because their earning seasons are shorter and more staggered".

"This is because demanding life and work pressures mean that getting away for a week or two at a time is often impossible for many familiesHoliday Parks are now multi-million dollare prime real estate. They are being sold off and subdivided on both sides of the Tasman", he said.

"This is driven by the one-off value of the land which far outweighs the income that the traditional holiday park can generate".

Duplex is top of the range

"So Leisurebuilts response is a Leisure Park concept in which the holiday park provides a term licence to occupy a site property along with the purchase of a quality Leisurebuilt unit. This provides an extremely affordable low maintenance holiday destination for the average family", he said.

The annual fee covers site maintenance, security and usage so families arrive ready to holiday with no lawns, hedges or gardens to tend.

Capital appreciation has the potential to add value. It is likely as the unit and licence can be sold at market rates at any time within the licence period. It is reasonable to expect that just like in a new subdivision, when new sites are no longer available, the value of the units will increase.

Heritage Lifestyle Homes provides -

New Generation Permanent Living Homes

Cabins for Holiday Park Accommodation

Full insulation to domestic requirements

Delivery to within 160 km of their Hamilton factory

Flooring and curtains

Basic unit set-up on site

Colour Steel roof and either Colour Steel or Alu

Duragalv and galvanised chassis

Full 2-year on-site warranty

Traveller is a caravan unit concept

While there are restrictions on the size of a Leisurebuilt unit, their Duplex (and Triplex) design concept allows Leisurebuilt to provide solutions of any size and shape. The largest design Leisurebuilt has created to date is more than 80 sqm (850 square feet).

In most cases a building permit is not needed because Leisurebuilt manufactures caravans. While in some cases Leisurebuilt caravans are larger than normal, Leisurebuilt conforms to the Camping Ground regulations and they have been approved by the Land Transport Authority for most of their products to be considered as trailers with registrations and warrants of fitness.

 In some instances, however, a building permit will be necessary but Leisurebuilt can advise clients on this and they will coordinate any requirements with local authorities.

Leisurebuilt always build to the customers specifications so that they get exactly what they want. Leisurebuilt provides a free design service and can advise on budgets and options so that what clients want is also within their budget.

Clients can have as many bedrooms as space and budget permits because the only design restrictions Leisurebuilt has are based on these two factors. Plans are available of units built to date as a basis for design.

Towball and all

The price of each Leisurebuilt unit varies as this depends on its size and client specifications. As Leisurebuilt builds to order they provide an itemised quotation with each plan which will show clients how the cost of the unit is made up.

Leisurebuilt has a "Shell Price List" which details how much each open plan shell will cost and this includes flooring, delivery and site set-up within 160km of the Leisurebuilt factory, plus the specified number of windows, lights and power points for the size of the unit.

The Leisurebuilt range starts at a basic $16,990 to $40,000 in the Annexe and Sleepout series. 

The Traveller series is the real caravan of the range from $30,000 to $80,000 it is popular in caravan parks, does well by the beach on holiday and makes a fine home for granny.

Chalet design is most popular

But the most popular product in the Leisurebuilt range is the Chalet Series from $42,000 to $120,000 it offers flexible design options in one to three bedrooms with full kitchens, bathrooms and ensuites.

The Duplex is top of the range with the design ability to join together with other series models and create high standard holiday accommodation. It allows the best fit on small sections and caravan sites in New Zealand.

Then there is the Utility Series from $15,990 to $55,000 which lives up to its name. This is the way to go for the mobile office, takeaway bars, rental offices and cabins or as a utility classroom for growing schools.

The Venture Series from $74,000 to $100,000 is New Zealand's first and only 3m wide towable, registered and warranted caravan which is designed to be a static unit. It is practical and comes in a range of sizes. Annexe and awnings can be added to suit.

All Leisurebuilt pricing includes:

Full insulation to domestic requirements

Delivery to within 160km of the Hamilton factory

Flooring and Curtains

Basic unit set-up on site

Colour Steel Roof and either Colour Steel or Aluminum Sheathing

Duragalv and Galvanised chassis

Full 2-year on-site warranty.

Leisurebuilt is at 64 Sunshine Ave., Te Rapa in Hamilton (0800) 600 615.

There are six dealers in the North and South Island.

The website is www.leisurebuilt.co.nz

Brian Keeley is the Managing Director (027) 292 8055 email: brian@leisurebuilt.co.nz

For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia and Go See New Zealand Directory
Email: garth@contact.com.au

Cabin is fitted with wheels for easy movement	Cabins have a good frame and strong deck structure
Cladding sheets have there own additional insulation	Dinette area
Ensuite neatly appointed	Extra waterproofing fitted prior to cladding
Frame is insulated prior to waterproofing addition	Fully registered ready for the road
Heater and gas bottle enclosures	Home touches
Kitchen in two bedroom model	The Chalet ranges from one to three bedrooms