How banks fund a development project?

Hi,

I am newbie in development arena so my question may be naive.

How bank finances a townhouse project compare to an investment property (a house)?
I know that for building an investment property bank require 20% equity (w/o lander mortgage insurance) + enough cash flow (salary income + future rental income).

If I develop a $2.5m 6 townhouse project and plan to retain all townhouses(few short term and rest long term).

My questions are:

1. Can I tell bank that I am going to retain all townhouses so that future rental income can be counted towards cashflow? Will bank agree to it?
2. How can I prove to bank that I am not going to sell all on completion?
3. Can I get finances the same way as if building an investment property? (i.e 20% equity + cash
flow)
4. Can I avoid going GST route?
5. Which approach is more profitable in terms of tax saving -
- Go GST route and sell half keep half on completion. vs
- develop as investment property then keep half for short term (is there a limit?) and half for
long term.
6. How can I avoid qualifying for GST in a townhouse project?
7. If I have both options open for me. Which one is more financially rewarding?

Cheers,
Ravi