The District Council of Robe, 337km southeast of Adelaide, SA, is proposing a land swap with the town’s golf club to allow a retirement village to be built.

Council CEO James Holyman said if the land swap with Robe Golf Club goes ahead it would allow council “to facilitate a retirement living development outcome”.

“This (retirement living provision) is an issue that has been discussed within the community for several decades and that the community would like addressed. It has been considered and investigated during the term of the current Council as the next steps require a suitable parcel of land,” he said.

“Under the Community Theme in the Community Plan 2019 - 2039, a priority action is to investigate need for retirement living, aged accommodation, and other aged services and appropriate roles for the Council in the provision of these services.

“Council’s role ... as a ‘facilitator’ on behalf of the community to provide aged services has continued into the current Four Year Business Plan 2022-23 to 2025-26 with an action to “Plan and negotiate for Retirement Living in Robe.”

Council has held a public meeting in Robe and over 200 submissions were made during the public consultation, with the majority in favour of the land exchange. However, council has decided to exclude coastal sand dunes from the proposed land swap and a cultural heritage survey of the area will be commissioned.