THE SECRET sauce behind one of the most highly-anticipated developments in Lake Macquarie is Keith and Natalie Johnson's commitment to nothing but the best.
Johnson Property Group's landmark $663.9 million luxury waterfront project at Trinity Point will bring a resort experience to the shores of Lake Macquarie, complete with a cutting-edge wellness centre and two world-class restaurants stamped with Ms Johnson's unique eye for design.
A detailed development application has been lodged with Lake Macquarie council, the final step in what has been a years-long process to bring their ambitious dream to life.
Managing director Mr Johnson said he's hopeful the project will be complete in two to three years, once it has the sign off from council.
"We've had some interest [from building companies] but again we've got to get down to the detail, and it won't be one big build, it will be built in stages," he said.
"Everybody's positive and excited.
"We get 1000 people a day into the restaurant, so you know, we're not door-knocking, but we talk to a hell of a lot of people who all want it to happen."
Mr Johnson said about 80 per cent of their weekend customer base comes from Sydney, a clientele he only expects to grow when the final product is complete.
If approved, the project will be built in stages, starting with some of the 218 hotel rooms across two of the six unique rolling-hill style buildings designed by Australian firm Koichi Takada Architects.
8 at Trinity director and general manager Ms Johnson said the success of the restaurant has only bolstered their confidence in what the future holds.
"The restaurant showed us the clientele and what people wanted, and that's what has given us the absolute tenacity to know that it's going to work and be very successful," she said.
"We have over 7500 people waiting for an apartment and we haven't even marketed it, it's all through the restaurant."
Mr Johnson said he's not surprised at the success the restaurant has had, despite its more remote location.
"You do good food, you do good quality and people will come," he said.
"I'm not surprised because we invested, knowing that's why we made the investment.
"Everybody who visits Lake Macquarie, even now they bring their people out to see Trinity, it's already doing that, it will be one of the greatest attractions equivalent to the Sydney Opera House."
The hotel will be complemented by two 300-seat restaurants, one a new and improved 8 at Trinity and the other a modern Asian-fusion offering, 160 residential apartments, the wellness centre, function centre, gym and business facilities.
Ms Johnson said she wants guests to feel like they could be anywhere in the world.
"If people think 8 at Trinity is amazing, we're bringing 1000 people a day to the middle of nowhere, we're just a restaurant on a plot of land on the waterfront right now with no other attraction than the marina," she said.
"We have 80 per cent of people drive up here on the weekend just to come and eat, to be in that atmosphere and feel like you've gone away, that's the secret.
"People want that sense of getaway, to feel like they could be in Singapore, Dubai or Hawaii, it's not just another restaurant with another fit out, it's everything combined, everything is a world standard."
The hope for the wellness centre is that it becomes a retreat that people fly to from all over the world to visit, offering the latest treatments like IVs, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy and more.
"Once this is approved, that's when everything goes into gear with all of the details that will go in there, it's how 8 at Trinity came about," Ms Johnson said.
"It's just different places that I've visited all over the world, you see a beautiful bar in Paris and the beautiful features, the colour scheme, slabs of marble to go with it.
"It's put together from things that you see all over the world."
The DA includes slight variations to the floor space ratio and heights of the buildings. A separate DA has been lodged for a $6 million carpark at the marina.
An economic impact report states the project will generate 398 jobs, $15.8 million in salaries and $3218 million in additional economic activity.
Submissions on the project can be made at the Lake Macquarie council website.
