Heading to a higher court? Metacap weighs next move for Riverbend land lease community
- Project refused: NSW panel rejects Metacap's 120-home land lease proposal
- Safety concerns: Bushfire risk and limited access to services proved decisive
- Affordability: Panel unconvinced the development met affordable housing objectives
- Appeal possible: Metacap can challenge the decision in the Land and Environment Court
A two-year battle over a proposed 120-home over-60s land lease community on the NSW South Coast has ended in a victory for opponents.
The NSW Southern Regional Planning Panel has refused Metacap’s $26.5 million Riverbend proposal at Bermagui, 380km south of Sydney, concluding the site was unsuitable for a seniors housing development despite the project being permissible under the site’s zoning.
Originally lodged with Bega Valley Shire Council in late 2023 as a 162-home development, the proposal was later reduced to 120 dwellings. The project would also have required the removal of 13.4 hectares of native vegetation.
In its determination, the panel said the location, approximately 2.5km from Bermagui’s town centre, would leave future residents with limited access to public transport, footpaths, health and community services and broader social connections.
It also found the proposed bushfire evacuation strategy did not provide sufficient contingency for frail or less mobile residents, despite the applicant estimating the site could be evacuated in 85 minutes.
The panel further questioned whether the development would provide genuinely affordable housing, saying it offered limited housing diversity while targeting a narrow seniors demographic.
The application had previously been recommended for refusal by Bega Valley Shire Council. Following a public determination meeting in April, the panel requested additional information from Metacap before making its final decision.
The setback comes as Metacap continues expanding its Riverbend Resorts and Villages business across Australia.
Construction is underway on Metacap’s $130 million Riverbend Hervey Bay and $150 million Riverbend Agnes Water land lease communities in Queensland, which will deliver 160 and 190 home sites respectively.
The developer has also secured approval for a 460-home land lease community in Koorona at Port Hughes, 135km north-west of Adelaide, in South Australia and jointly manages over-50s communities at Burpengary and Yandina in Queensland, along with Ballina in New South Wales.
Metacap can appeal the decision in the NSW Land and Environment Court, leaving the future of the Bermagui project yet to be determined.
