Interview with Eastview’s Graham Goldman

Since establishing Eastview's Queensland operation in 2003, Director Graham Goldman has presided over $1 billion of work. We were lucky to catch up with Graham and get his insights on Eastview and the future of the Australian property market.

Q. When Eastview was established and where are the offices located?

A.
Eastview was established in Sydney in 1996 by the NSW Director Jim Simons and the QLD Office was set up in 2003 by myself, the QLD Director.

Jim and I worked together at Bilfinger Berger (Parent Company of Baulderstone Hornibrook) Constructing the Australian Tax Office at Hurstville in 1993.

The 2 offices have high profile locations with the Sydney Office based in a project that Eastview managed the development and construction of. It is in Milson's Point and overlooks Luna Park, Sydney Harbour Bridge and the best harbour in the world.

The QLD Office is located in the Wave Building in Broadbeach and is also a project that Eastview managed the development and construction of. The Wave Building is well recognised and is in the heart of the restaurant precinct of Broadbeach.

Q. What makes Eastview different to other Project Management Companies?

A.
Eastview is not only able to act as project Managers, but also as Development Managers and as Contractors.

Each of our key staff has a major contracting background and have all worked as builders on high profile projects across Australia. We understand construction intimately and this makes our job easier managing the builder.

We have a philosophy of being very hands on with works and we manage builders and subcontractors very closely to ensure that we maintain full control of the project. We have a very close relationship with our consultants and the objective is to work as a team to deliver the outcomes that the client has anticipated by selecting Eastview to undertake their project.

Q. Where does Eastview undertake Projects?

A.
We have undertaken projects all over Australia, in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Key locations in Australia where we have undertaken projects include Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Melbourne and Wollongong.

Q. What are some of the key projects you have undertaken in the last 10 years?

A.
We have undertaken some exciting projects over the past 10 years and it's hard to nominate a few but if I had to choose:

3 Northcliffe Street Milsons Point our Sydney Office Location and this project was a mixed commercial and residential Project.

The Wave Building in Broadbeach the home of our QLD Office and this project was a mixed commercial, retail & residential building

4 National Circuit a first class commercial building for ISPT in Canberra

Manhattan on the Park and 330 residential unit project in Canberra

Sanbano Coolangatta a luxury 25 level residential project in Coolangatta

Naisoso Island development in Fiji

Sheraton Mirage Hotel major refurbishment on the Gold Coast

Q. Have your key staff been with your company for long periods of time?

A.
We are very fortunate to have our key staff as long term team members and to name just a few examples:

• Andrew Robinson has been with Eastview since 2000 when he began in the Sydney office and he moved to the QLD office in approximately 005.
• Ed Coleman has been with Eastview since the establishment of the QLD office in 2003 and has worked with me for over 20 years.
• Karen Gossner has been with Eastview in QLD for more than 12 years.

Q. How do you see the future in the market?

A.
We have been through a very tough period in the property industry in Australia and the last few years have shown a resurgence in both Sydney and South East Queensland. We see that the next 5 years will be very busy with strong development in the Gold Coast leading up to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and in Sydney with the revitalisation of the residential market and some key infrastructure projects.

Q. What advice do you give to people looking at the market today?

A. It is the best time to buy property in both Sydney and the Gold Coast. Prices will never be this low again.