Plans for Hawthorndale Care Village revealed
First images of Invercargill’s proposed Hawthorndale Care Village reveal a design intended for the smaller-scale lifestyle of a suburban neighbourhood.
The charitable trust behind the not-for-profit project, planned for the former primary school site on Tay St, has lodged a resource consent application with the Invercargill City Council and will request it be publicly notified.
The trust was excited finally to be in a position to articulate its vision for a project that had been long in the feasibility and planning stage, working group team member Paddy O’Brien said.
It was expected to generate 300 jobs during the construction phase and when opened would create 11 new jobs and retain 87 from the Calvary Hospital transition.
‘‘At a time when Invercargill needs it most, this project can play a pivotal role in stimulating the city’s economy over the next two years.’’
The development had been structured to lend itself to use all local trades and construction service.
Foley Group architect Rob Campbell said the design enabled what the innovative Dutch De
Hogeweyk aged care model sought to achieve – a village environment nestled in its surroundings, with care homes that ‘‘connect and offer a calm sense of engagement within the village’’.
The project rejected the large, nondescript, hospital buildings of traditional rest homes.
It would allow people to live in small homes built with dementia design principles – 13 houses catering for six or seven residents per home, providing the full spectrum of rest home, dementia and hospital care.
As well, 10 independent living villas would be provided for those not needing a rest home level of care, with scope for 30 more villas and apartments.
The village would include a cafe´, dairy, hairdresser, wellness centre, theatre, hall, chapel, playground, men’s shed and vegetable garden.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced a postponement of a planned community drop-in session planned before lodging the planning consent application but O’Brien said the trust had been consulting directly with local neighbours.
‘‘We welcome any queries regarding the development and encourage the community to find out more on our website,’’ he said.