The owners of Riverlands Tourist Park are transforming the site into an over 55s lifestyle village with 205 dwellings, a community centre and recreation and sports facilities.
A conditional planning permit for a $150 million, residential village on the edge of Yarrawonga was approved at last week’s Moira Shire Council meeting.
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The site, on the intersection of Brears Rd and Murray Valley Highway, includes the Riverlands Tourist Park and will be constructed in 11 stages.
No lead contractor has yet been engaged but developer, Dominic Bressen of Sydney-based Pentola Partners, said he was already in discussions with local contractors and construction companies.
With no start date in sight, Mr Bressen said there was still a process in front of them, but they were happy to meet conditions.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve put together; it’s been a very long and involved process’,” he said.
“The key concept here is the need for affordable housing for over 55s, and typically 70 plus.
“Most of those people are downsizing, so that in turn frees up housing in the area.”
The plan is for 205 one, two and three-bedroom dwellings, which are expected to sell at 10-20 per cent below Yarrawonga’s median house price.
The village will have a community centre with function space, cinema and library, and a wellness centre with a swimming pool and spa, gym, sauna and steam room.
Extensive community and recreation areas are planned to suit people aged over 55.
The planned outdoor areas include a bowling green, pickle ball courts, walking trails, stomping shed and private vineyard.
“Legally the houses need to be transportable,” Mr Bressen said.
“But there’s a lot of very clever engineering that goes into them; it doesn’t feel like a cabin.
“It’s a proper home built for people of a certain age, so for example there’s minimal steps.”
The 205 homes will range from one to three bedrooms.
The original development application attracted 20 objections and after detailed and lengthy consultation with objectors, 15 of those have been withdrawn.
Among them were residents of Riverlands Tourist Park who were concerned about their own futures.
“Part of what has been so intense is the community and resident engagement,” Mr Bressen said.
“We engaged sensibly with objectors; I personally contacted every single one and had a conversation to make sure we completely addressed their concerns, or at least left the door open for any conversation, at any point in time.
“We were committed to help them find new homes and I’m really happy that all those residents are feeling they have been looked after; they’ve all withdrawn their objections.”
Other concerns were addressed by engaging with the community and with experts resulting in a new turning lane heading out of town, a treatment heading into Yarrawonga and a new walking path down Brears Rd.
“Those things were all needed but probably wouldn’t have happened without us doing this project,” Mr Bressen said.
“That’s one of the advantages of working with developers.”
The over 55s lifestyle village will be constructed in 11 stages.
While the low-density residential zone (LDRZ) was not consistent with the high-density housing development, council’s director of sustainable development, Bryan Sword said in his report that the proposed development was a ‘Section 2’ use and could be considered on its merits against the Planning Scheme more generally.
He recommended the application be approved as it met a community need with housing diversity and was integrated into an established area with local services nearby.
Mr Sword noted there was limited land supply for such a project, and with a developer determined to meet the conditions, the planning permit was approved.
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