There are so many stories that have shaped Intrapac’s journey over the past 40 years. In an industry filled with such a wealth of challenges and opportunities, it is not surprising that a handful of trusted partners share much of our story and journey. These partnerships are like familial relationships built on a solid foundation of mutual understanding, commitment, and aligned values, allowing us to achieve truly impactful outcomes together. 

Over the past 25 years, Brencorp Properties has undertaken a significant number of joint venture development projects with Intrapac, joining us as a key investment and strategic partner. We spoke with Jacqui Withers, Brencorp Properties’ Chief Operating Officer, about the longevity of our relationship and the factors that have ensured this partnership continues to deliver vibrant places and sustainable, liveable communities. 

Jacquie Withers with (from left) David Payes, Richard Torossi, John Crosby, Arthur Lee and Max Shifman at the Kinley project launch. 

How did the long-term partnership between Brencorp Properties and Intrapac start? 

Brencorp’s former CEO, John Crosby, and David Payes from Intrapac have been friends and colleagues for many years prior to partnering. Being in a position where he’d accrued some great experience and had his own money to play with, John initiated the partnership between Brencorp Properties and Intrapac in the 1980s, reaching out to David to discuss available estate opportunities. So they started with a new estate out in Berwick (Woodlands of Berwick), which went really well, and the relationship just flourished from there.  

How has the collaboration between Brencorp Properties and Intrapac evolved over the years? 

The partnership began with smaller 100 and 200 lot subdivision projects, and as the success of these projects grew, so did the trust between the two companies, and from that more opportunities arose.  

There was always a similarity in the way David and John worked. David and John are both really good at nurturing strong working relationships in that they are loyal and communicate very well. Working together, these qualities mean that they have the perfect tools to avoid conflict – in the entire history of working together there’s never been any blow-up, as they’ve always been able to talk it through. 

Can you highlight some of the most successful projects that have resulted from this partnership? 

The Somerfield project was a true game changer for our partnership. It was the largest project that both companies had ever completed, so doing it together resulted in so much shared learning and growth. Both Intrapac and Brencorp Properties have always really cared about making vibrant, welcoming communities, and Somerfield truly exemplified that. The project really solidified our relationship and showed us both what we could accomplish when working together.  

The Somerfield community transformed Keysborough South and won several awards. 

How do both companies align their goals and strategies throughout various projects? 

At Intrapac and Brencorp, we really care about the end user’s experience. We go the extra mile, providing that extra landscaping or extra open space, because we know that it really makes a difference to the purchaser.  It’s not just about making money, we share a commitment for delivering special master planned communities and shaping unique places where people proudly live and really feel at home. It is in this outcome-focused realm that our goals meet. 

The relationship between the two companies is based upon a shared vision which drives our ongoing success in reaching these aligned goals. Our relationship is structured to ensure that we are both benefiting from each project, and we both have an instrumental voice in driving the process and the outcome. It’s almost like we are a company together rather than just partners.  

What role does innovation play in your joint projects, and can you provide an example of an innovative solution that was implemented? 

It is Brencorp’s mission to be a step above the rest in regards to future estates. The Kinley project is a perfect example of this – by refurbishing an old quarry in Lilydale, we’ve enabled the land to move past its original use, repurposing it to house a new community. But there is also the McKimmies Road project which is set to rejuvenate the disused Bundoora quarry, and there’s a golf course in Keysborough which we’re currently looking at too.  

As we are very capital heavy in our projects, and don’t generally borrow from the bank, we are able to look beyond the norm and seek out different ways of bringing on more housing. We find that banks would see a project such as a quarry infill site as too much of a risk, however once we have remediated the land and added all of that value, they are able to get on board with our vision, and are more likely to support it if needed. 

How do Brencorp Properties and Intrapac approach sustainability and environmental responsibility in their projects? 

It’s evident in our projects that we care about the land just as much as we care about the people that are moving there. Somerfield provides a great example of this, incorporating recycled water well before it was mandatory, and featuring an innovative hybrid basin system for stormwater storage that presents as a beautiful wetland entryway. The wetland solution required an earlier investment, but achieved a better outcome for the environment, contributed significantly to the place identity, and left more area for housing than alternate approaches. Often it’s the little things, the clever solutions that people don’t even know are there, that have the most impact. 

What are the key benefits of this long-term partnership for Brencorp Properties? 

Brencorp Properties is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Taverners Group. Within our family office also sits the Scanlon Foundation, a philanthropic organisation focused on advancing Australia as a welcoming, prosperous and cohesive nation, particularly in relation to the transition of migrants into our society. Brencorp’s partnership with Intrapac is extremely well aligned with this, as together we create vibrant, sustainable, welcoming, livable communities that provide housing that supports Scanlon Foundation’s mission. 

Beyond this, the benefit is in the relationship itself. With such big investments and long lead times, there needs to be a great deal of patience and trust, but also a cohesive approach to working through challenges. This is something that we have with Intrapac, and something that has been proven time and time again. Given how long our relationship is, there is scope to continue growing and growing, and to continue making great estates. 

Looking ahead, what future projects or initiatives are Brencorp Properties and Intrapac planning together? 

We contracted four new deals in 2021 and 2022, which has kept us very busy. Key projects that are underway include Terranora, which is currently going through planning approval, McKimmies Road, which is being rezoned from industrial to residential, Gisborne which we’re hoping to rezone to bring much needed housing supply to the growing Macedon Ranges,  and the next releases at Kinley which we expect to achieve planning approval soon. These are all long term projects, likely to take 10 to 15 years to complete, so the relationship between Intrapac and Brencorp thankfully will continue for some time, , and that’s without factoring in any new opportunities that will likely come up in the next year or so!