A new retirement living community is being proposed beside an existing aged care facility.
Independent not-for-profit residential aged care provider NoosaCare has lodged a development application with Noosa Council to create a retirement village beside its Carramar centre on Carramar Street, Tewantin.
It would include 37 two and three-bedroom residences along with three townhouses, a range of facilities and 11 one-bedroom rooms for on-site staff.
CEO Grant Simpson said it marked a significant development in the organisation’s approach to retirement living.
“As a community-based aged care provider for the past 40 years, this is an important step forward as we seek to create a connected and contemporary retirement living community with a strong focus on wellness and connection,” he said.
“Our plan creates a much-needed co-location link between our aged care facility at Carramar and those entering the retirement phase of life to ensure each residents’ future health needs are met without the need to relocate.
“The co-located retirement living community offers ‘future-proofed living’, meaning residents have access to a range of clinical and lifestyle services provided from the one co-located site, as and when they require them.
“Noosa’s senior population is growing faster than the state average with the over 75s market the fastest growing cohort.
“Our development addresses an important community need with very strong demand in the Noosa catchment area for more retirement accommodation along with the added benefit for residents to be able to transition to the aged care facility if and when required.”
Mr Simpson said NoosaCare purchased five homes on Carramar Street, which provide a sufficient footprint to undertake the development.
“Our new retirement village development will include spacious apartments and townhouses as well as a range of community amenities including indoor and outdoor community facilities such as recreation areas, a pool and steam room, along with a gym and a cinema,” he said.
“We’ve designed this community for older couples along with the growing number of single women looking for a community to call home as well as those people who have a loved one living with dementia or another age-related condition.
“We will specifically target local buyers in their transition from retirement to aged care and we believe we will also assist with the current local housing crisis by enabling retirees to sell down their existing home and, in turn, provide a home for a local family.
“Residents will be able to move into a brand new, age-appropriate residence which will be designed to the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines Gold Standard.
“This includes step free access, spacious layouts and accessible bathrooms and kitchens, along with market leading digital residential platforms to provide easy access to information. as well as connection to family and friends and personal support where required.
“The proposed retirement living village will form a key part of NoosaCare and remain under NoosaCare’s not-for-profit company structure. It will be managed by NoosaCare’s CEO and governed by the NoosaCare Board.”
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Mr Simpson said NoosaCare spent a significant amount of time consulting with local residents and other stakeholders to ensure the development would be in keeping with local expectations.
“NoosaCare emerged from humble beginnings in 1974 and over the past 40 years, and we’ve built a highly regarded community-based facility. We remain proudly a not-for-profit organisation, from the community for the community,” he said.
“It’s our goal to continue to work with the local community in order to provide important boutique aged care services and we are keen to hear feedback from the local community regarding this exciting project.”
Mr Simpson expected the project would take around 18 months to complete.
