Retirement on high
Council rubber stamps Aveo vertical challenge
CONSTRUCTION of a 16storey retirement tower will begin before Christmas after the project was approved by the Gold Coast City Council.
The $62.5 million tower, which will be built in Labrador by aged care giant Aveo Group, will feature 96 units and cater to independent living.
Aveo Group chief Geoff Grady said final design works would begin on the tower within weeks before it goes to tender.
“The needs of today’s retirees are changing and we know that our future residents won’t want to leave their familiar suburban areas – they’ll want to remain connected in their local community when they choose to retire,” he said.
“This vertical living concept affords residents the convenience of being situated in a popular beachside postcode, with the added peace of mind that they can have access to the best possible care and health services within the community, as and when they need it.
“Labrador’s proximity to the Broadwater attracts many seniors who enjoy walking along the beachside, and the area itself has seen many changes over the last 10 years, so we’re particularly excited to be part of the transformation.”
Construction of the tower, which will be home to more than 150 seniors, is expected to be completed in 2020.
Features of the tower will include a heated pool, gym, sauna, community lounge, media room, arts and crafts room, dining and bar facilities and consultancy rooms for visiting medical staff.
Council planning boss Cr Cameron Caldwell said the Gold Coast was seeing a growing number of development applications catering towards older people.
“There is a growing need for retirement and aged care facilities in our city,” he said. “This location provides wonderful lifestyle opportunities as well as great proximity to amenities and healthcare services.”
As revealed by the Bulletin in February, nearly $1 billion worth of retirement-related developments are in the pipeline for the city.
More than 12 such projects, including two retirement towers, have gone before the council since early 2017.
These projects include a $30 million, 105-bed facility planned by developer Japara Healthcare for a site at Robina; an 11-level “vertical village” put forward by Aura Holdings for Kirra’s Golden Four Dve; and a 130-bed home by the Gold Coast Jewish Foundation for the Aged on an Arundel site.
Another recent application was the Oak Tree Retirement Village, proposed for the site now occupied by the Gold Coast Italian Club.
The clubhouse and some of its soccer fields would remain.
THEY’LL WANT TO REMAIN CONNECTED IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY WHEN THEY RETIRE. AVEO GROUP CHIEF GEOFF GRADY