Retirement village for golf club

TOOWOOMBA Middle Ridge Golf Club, together with retirement village operator Aura, are proposing to build a 78 apartment retirement village on golf club-owned land.

The location of the proposed development will occupy the existing overflow car park and golf buggy storage area, adjacent to the ninth green and in close proximity to the clubhouse and pro-shop.

Toowoomba Golf Club President Mr Mark Mahony described the location as “ideal” and said it would have the least impact on the golf course, and would be in close proximity to the clubhouse.

The golf club has been considering development and sale options for parts of the course for some time, to raise muchneeded capital for the ongoing improvement of the course and its facilities.

“The deal with Aura is a great outcome for the club as it has leased, not sold, the land to Aura and will receive a development rights payment, upfront,” he said.

Significant thought has gone into the facilities within the retirement village to ensure the offering complements, not competes, with the golf club.

The village will comprise three separate buildings, which are sympathetic to the surrounds.

The building facing Rowbotham Street will top out at four levels, stepping down to three at each end. The northern boundary, shared with private residences, will be two levels and will sit well below the existing tree canopy.

Internationally awarded architectural practice Cox Architecture has designed the proposed village, which director Richard Coulson said would set a new benchmark for the sector and the city of Toowoomba.