It's happening - Noble Life comes to life

Construction of a new 186-home community in the Derwent Valley –  dubbed Noble Life - New Norfolk Resort, and originally proposed as part of The Mills development has begun. 

Construction work by Groombridge Civil is now evident on the 9.5 ha site, on the corner of Hobart Road and Ring Road in New Norfolk. 

Large signs show property sales are under way – prices are expected to start in the mid-$500,000s – and New Norfolk residents will get a letter this week detailing the proposed work. 

Prospects of a go-ahead for the residential development dimmed last July when Omega Investment Holdings, the previous owner of the much larger 118-ha Mills development was put into administration.

The Noble Family company, contract manager for that project, became one of 77 unsecured creditors. 

As reported by the Derwent Valley Gazette last August, a new financial plan, involving a complete separation from Omega, has enabled the Noble company to bring a detailed blueprint for its residential development to fruition.

The company’s Daniel Noble says all necessary council building permits and approvals are complete, with New Norfolk LLC (Land Lease Communities) in place and Noble Life as the community manager. 

The new houses are to be built in an architecturally designed community designed for retirees. Amenities include a private clubhouse with a cinema, library, sports lounge, heated indoor pool, sauna, massage rooms, yoga studio and gym. 

The full project is valued at some $75 million. Daniel Noble says “it really is a new way of living that hasn’t been seen in Tasmania before.”

He expressed confidence in the project's viability: “The fundamentals remain strong, as they have been since my brother Roger and I arrived in New Norfolk four years ago. Our affection for this place drives our commitment to this vision.” 

Mr Noble said he was pleased to see the project back on track after suffering a devastating set-back when The Mills went into administration in 2024. 

“That was really devastating,” Mr Noble said. “We are one of the many unsecured creditors who lost money, so we really do understand that pain,” he said. 

“The most devastating part is the thought that locals might put us in the same bucket. We are not The Mills… we’re Noble Life… and we pride ourselves on our long and proud history of delivering what we promise to our communities.” 

Since 1997, the Noble Family has specialized in building similar developments to that going up in the Derwent Valley, largely in Queensland and New South Wales.

“This project will create hundreds of local jobs, and inject tens of millions of dollars into the local community,” Mr Noble said. “We’re really proud to see to young apprentices and surrounding businesses, suppliers, and shops benefitting from this major construction project too.” 

Documents sighted by the Derwent Valley Gazette, submitted to the Tasmanian Planning Commission on November 17, 2023, show highly advanced plans for core architectural, planning and permitting elements.