Keyton's 218-units development "unanimously approved" but ....

The planning delays experienced over the past years will have costed many tens of millions of dollars that could have seen more retirement villages built.

In July 2024, Retirement village operator Keyton bought its first retirement village land parcel under its new name - the long-vacant former Australian Road Research Board property in Vermont South, 26km east of Melbourne's CBD.

“This infill development is superbly located with established services, retail, and transport infrastructure all on its doorstep, only 20km from the CBD. And its elevated position gives spectacular views to the Dandenong ranges,” he said. “Preservation and adaptive re-use of the site’s heritage building will become the centre piece for the new community to support an active and independent resident lifestyle with a strong focus on wellbeing,” Head of Development Jason Fitzgerald said in July 2024.

The retirement village operator, jointly owned and operated under a trust structure by Aware Super (49.9%), APG Asset Management (25%) and Lendlease (25.1%), said it would sell units for $1.3 million to $1.4 million.

Keyton's development application for 218 units split across eight buildings, including two 27 metre high towers, went before Whitehorse City Council on Monday, .

It was "carried unanimously" with "Council resolving to grant a Planning Permit under the Whitehorse Planning Scheme, and authorises the issue of a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987."

Therein lies the issue. Because there were 51 objections lodged during the public exhibition phase of the approval process, those objectors now have 28 days to lodge an appeal for VCAT to review of the decision.

If no appeals are received, Keyton has approval to commence building its retirement village. However, if there is an objection, then there will be a VCAT process “reconsidering the whole application from the beginning.  

Through this process, VCAT becomes the "decision maker" and can overturn a Council decision. 

If this happens it will delay the project by at least another nine months.

Keyton can do nothing but try and maintain the site, which has been vandalised.

“We’d like to over the medium to longer term get to about 20,000 units,” Nathan said at Keyton's launch in June 2023.