IRT seeks to expand retirement living services
- Expansion planned: IRT eyes six-hectare site beside Culburra Place
- Growth strategy: Acquisition supports 1,000 new seniors homes over the next decade
- DA lodged: Sealark seeks subdivision approval to facilitate the sale
- Redevelopment: Culburra joins IRT’s growing NSW South Coast development pipeline
The Not For Profit has committed to deliver more than 1,000 new homes for older people over the next decade.
To further its aim, IRT has announced plans to acquire approximately six hectares of land at Culburra Beach for a future expansion of its co-located 36-unit Culburra Place Retirement Village and 60-bed residential aged care and retirement living community.
The agreement will see IRT acquire vacant land currently owned by Sealark, which is developing West Culburra Town Centre Precinct.
To enable the sale, Sealark has lodged a Development Application (DA) with Shoalhaven City Council to subdivide part of its landholdings.
The DA proposes creating a six-hectare lot for future residential aged care use adjoining the existing IRT community, as well as a separate 1.2-hectare lot near Culburra Road.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, IRT had been advancing plans to redevelop Culburra Place, including extensive engagement with staff, residents, families and the local community to help shape the vision for the site.
Those plans were placed on hold in early 2020 as the organisation responded to the challenges of the pandemic.
“Pending Council approval and final acquisition of the land, this agreement gives us the opportunity to revisit our longer-term plans for the future of Culburra Place,” IRT Group Chief Executive Officer, Ross Gallagher said.
He added the agreement reflects IRT’s long-term commitment to Culburra Beach and the wider Shoalhaven region.
“IRT has been part of the Culburra Beach community for more than 35 years, and this agreement represents an important investment in ensuring we can continue to meet the needs of older people now and into the future,” he said.
“This land acquisition gives us the space and flexibility to thoughtfully plan for the future so we can enable more older people and their families to access quality care and services close to home.”
IRT is actively progressing new developments, redevelopments and expansions in Woonona, Wollongong, Unanderra, St Georges Basin, Milton, Moruya and Dalmeny.
