Resort Communities Outsell Retirement Villages Five to One, says Mewett

Sexton, D. 'For Over 50s Who Want Fun,' The Cairns Post, June 25, 2008, p. 27.
A tai-chi terrace, teppanyaki bar and handyman workshop are just some of the features that will be on offer at the Savannah Lifestyle Resort at Mareeba – the $100 million resort community for over-50s expected to be complete within four years. Director Noel Mewett, developer of lifestyle communities such as the Gold Coast’s Golden Crest Manor, says: "Australia wide, similar projects are outselling retirement villages five to one." The gated community will comprise 170 residences of two and three-bedroom homes built to nine different architectural designs, and will incorporate a clubhouse with cinema and entertainment lounges and a business centre with library. At Savannah, residents will pay no body corporate fees, deferred management fees, stamp duty, council rates or exit fees – owning tenure over their homes but not the actual land while paying a weekly fee that covers land lease and maintenance. Residences start at $320,000.