Developers behind three local developments have showcased their projects to the community in what we predict will be a growing trend.

Gladstone, 550km north of Brisbane, has a population of around 70,000, but historically locals have left the town to retire.

“Your early retirees are the ones who give back to the community and we’re losing a lot of them, that side of it is very disappointing,” Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher told the local paper.

“We’re about a decade behind because Gladstone's traditionally been an industrial and working town, not a retirement town.”

He said there was particular interest in the So Glad nursing home at the Gladstone TAFE, which will see the Derby St CQUniversity campus converted into a 60-bed aged care facility.

“That site is critical, we need that to happen right now. Beds are critically low in nursing homes in Gladstone and we’re shifting people to Rockhampton, Mackay and Bundaberg,” he said.

Gladstone has experienced an influx of retirement living proposals recently – we reported on the 560-home Station Creek Lifestyle Resort LLC here.

A retirement village is also being planned for the town’s 27ha Phillip St Communities Precinct.