Peace and quiet – and cycling
Annette and Roger Denton are two of the first residents to move into a new $130 million retirement village in Richmond.
The couple this week joined other residents, soon-to-be residents and contractors at an opening celebration to mark the completion of stage one of the Arvida Group development at Richmond West, dubbed Waimea Plains.
As she walked through her two-bedroom villa, Annette Denton said she loved her new home, which was ‘‘quiet and peaceful’’ compared to their previous home of 21 years in the Nelson suburb of Monaco.
Her husband had advocated for the move, saying they should downsize ‘‘while we were fit and able – and not too late in life’’.
They chose Waimea Plains because of the design, she said. ‘‘We weren’t in a whole row [of houses] . . . and we’ve got more sunlight.’’
The location, near Tasman’s Great Taste Trail, was also a drawcard for the Dentons, who are keen cyclists. Plans for an extended cycleway through other planned stages of the Waimea Plains village and neighbouring developments mean they will be able to ride towards Brightwater,
Wakefield and beyond.
Arvida chief executive Bill McDonald said 38 homes were built in stage one of the development – 26 two- or three-bedroom villas, and 12 townhouses each with one bedroom and a study. Prices ranged from $395,000 to $435,000 for the townhouses, and $495,000 to $695,000 for the villas.
Marketing and sales general manager Tristan Saunders said the first stage was completed ahead of schedule, partly because of ‘‘great contractors doing a fab job’’, but also because of high demand from prospective residents, with 30 expected to be in their new homes before Christmas.
Saunders said the floor slabs had already been poured for 25 villas as part of stage two, which would also include a clubhouse for residents, with a bar, kitchen, dance hall, library and office space, along with a bowling green, barbecue and pizza oven.
McDonald said that once it was fully built, in possibly four to five years, the village would have about 200 homes for independent living, as well as a ‘‘Living Well Centre’’ with 75 care suites.
It would also have areas for use by residents and the wider public, including a swimming pool, a gym, a spa and a retail precinct.
A wellness centre would operate as the ‘‘front door’’, providing health and recreation facilities to residents and the wider community, he said.
‘‘We are creating a development which is integral to the wider community, one that provides services of value to retirees, whether they live here or not.
‘‘We envisage a vibrant community hub where people pop in for a coffee at the cafe, use the pool and gym, engage in any number of activities or community groups.’’
Arvida is one of the largest aged-care providers in New Zealand, and has two other retirement villages in Nelson and Tasman – Oakwoods and The Wood.