In a sign of the times, IRT Group has submitted a Development Application to build ageing-in-place housing on the site of its 1970s-era Towradgi retirement village in NSW’s Illawarra region.
“We realise what people want as they enter their later years is changing and we are committed to ensuring our retirement villages are designed for older Australians to age in place and maintain their independence for longer,” said IRT CEO Patrick Reid, who has reduced the Not For Profit’s annual loss to $10.6 million after slashing its 2020/2021 capital expenditure by 50% following a $20 million loss 12 months earlier.
The property, to be called Elements at IRT Towradgi Beach, was developed by IRT in the early 1970s and previously also featured a residential aged care centre which was vacated in 2015 when its residents moved to the new IRT Tarrawanna Aged Care Centre.
The DA for Elements at IRT Towradgi Beach proposes the construction of 81 homes, including 25 villas, 24 villa-style apartments and 32 apartments with a mix of two to three bedrooms. The DA also proposes a street front café and general store which will be open to the public. The resident clubhouse will have a multipurpose second storey for community, medical and allied health services.
The DA is now subject to assessment by the Southern Regional Planning Panel. Wollongong City Council is expected to soon place the DA on exhibition for public viewing.
