Build sped up to match demand
THE construction of 18 villas at Observatory Village Lifecare in Oamaru is scheduled to be completed in March, four years before it was anticipated they would be needed.
High demand for the one and twobedroom villas at the village overlooking Oamaru has meant Observatory Village Lifecare Ltd, the company that owns the facility, has pushed ahead with its construction plans well in advance of their original timeline.
Observatory Village Lifecare Ltd financial officer Katrina Holywell said 17 of the 18 villas set to be completed early next year had been sold, and if demand continued, there was the potential for up to another 60 to be constructed.
‘‘That’s the maximum and we will look at that depending on demand but we need to put a lot of infrastructure in place, so we don’t have any timing on that . . . but, we do know that it will be in the pipeline at some stage.
‘‘We thought 18 villas would be filled over five and ahalf years and it’s happened in 18 months,’’ Mrs Holywell said.
Construction was also under way on the village’s stage two apartment project, that will add to the village’s 12 apartments.
The twostorey complex, having 10 apartments overlooking the Oamaru township and coastline, is set to be completed by midJuly. Six were under contract at present.
Mrs Holywell said another 10 apartments could be built by July 2020, which would take the total number to 32.
Meanwhile, the village’s hospitallevel care wing, Ahuriri, was opened on July 23, which provided an additional 20 beds to the 41 already at the site.
Construction was also under way on the final planned wing that would house a further 20 beds, Mrs Holywell said.
‘‘We are now on to the next stage which is called the Waitaki wing, so that’s another 20 care beds and they will be available in May next year. That will be all of our care beds completed, so 81 beds,’’ Mrs Holywell said.