Clarke was on site this morning to turn the first sod on the $1.4 million three-storey luxury terrace that he and wife Kyly will use as a holiday house at Trinity Point.

Clarke told the Lakes Mail that he expected fellow Channel Nine commentator and avid angler Mark Taylor to be a regular visitor to his new pad.

“I’ve got a funny feeling Mark will be bringing his boat up here regularly,” Clarke said.

“Mark loves his fishing. He fishes in Sydney Harbour, and what I like most about Mark is that he doesn’t fish with bait, he fishes with lures and a lot of soft plastics.

“I love that style of fishing because you’re always doing something – you cast, then you wind – so it’s entertaining.

“So I look forward to bringing Tubby up here for a beautiful day out on the water.”

The Clarkes were the first to buy into the Trinity Point estate.

They opted for a four-bedroom, three-storey terrace which they purchased for $1,388,888 last November.

Theirs is one of eight luxury terraces due for completion on May 8 next year.

The remaining terraces will be sold during the construction phase.

Johnson Property Group managing director Keith Johnson praised Clarke’s initiative.

“Michael is very astute. As soon as he saw this project there was no hesitation – he wanted in,” Mr Johnson said.

But Clarke did his homework, telling the Lakes Mail that Trinity Point ticked all of the boxes.

“I’ve always been selective and really careful about where I’ve bought, and I’ve always believed in bricks and mortar as an investment,” he said.

“And what makes this place so special is the high quality standards of Johnson Property Group, the fact that we’re just five steps from the beautiful water, the convenience of how close the place is to Sydney, and the wonderful community here.”

Clarke said from the moment he started visiting the development site at Morisset Park, locals had made him feel relaxed and welcome.

“I think the terraces here are going to be as good as anything I’ve seen offered in the heart of Sydney,” Clarke said.

Lake Macquarie turned on a beautifully clear, still and sunny winter’s morning for the event, which wasn’t lost on Clarke.

“Today is a great example of why somebody like me would want to buy and spend time here with this beautiful weather and right on the water.”

The Clarkes’ new terrace will become their home away from home.

“We’ll use this as a bit of a holiday place. We’ll keep our base in Sydney, but we’ll travel here regularly and bring our family and friends,” Clarke said.

Trinity Point is planned to include 189 residential land lots and medium-density housing; 250 residential and short-stay apartments; a 188-berth marina; a five-star Pulman hotel; and a 200-seat restaurant along with a cafe, function room, resort facilities and a retail precinct.

Clarke said the development would be a tourism drawcard for Lake Macqauriand a boost for the entire community.

“It’s going to offer so many jobs to the locals, there will be plenty of boats on the water here, and with sunshine like this today you can’t go wrong,” he said.

Clarke admitted he was yet to buy a boat.

“I don’t have a boat, but a lot of my friends do, so I think I’ve been a smart man in allowing them to spend money on their boats, and then I borrow them,” he joked.

“But I love the water. I sailed in the Sydney to Hobart last year, and I’ve always loved being on the water.”

Mr Johnson said land sales and investor interest in Trinity Point were strong.

“It shows that what we’re bringing to Lake Macquarie is something that’s very necessary,” he said.

“The buyers are loving it, the demand is good, and we’re setting record prices for the area.”

JPG recently launched Stage 6 of the development which comprises 23 land lots varying in size from 500 to 852 square metres.

Mr Johnson said development applications for a number of houses in the development were with Lake Macquarie City Council for determination.