Bribie Island RSL and Citizens Memorial Club has submitted a development application to build a four-storey retirement village at its Bongaree Bowls Club, stating its future depends on the development.
“These improvements are considered critical for reinvigorating club membership and ensuring BBC’s future economic sustainability, which is not viable without the addition of the retirement facility,” says the planning application for the club in Bongaree, located on the western side of Bribie Island, Moreton Bay Region.
The proposal is for 19 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom units with private open space for potential residents with a ground level courtyard and upper-level balconies.
Two of the three lawn bowls greens will be upgraded to synthetic all-weather playing surfaces with a refurbishment of the clubhouse to include a repurposed cafe/bar and outdoor ‘alfresco’ seating area. A total of 53 carparking spaces including 50 resident spaces and three visitor carparks has been proposed.
A pre-lodgement meeting was held with the council on 14 December last year for the applicants to discuss the proposal, however issues were raised with the retirement village being of an “inconsistent use” for the land.
Bongaree has a population of 6,947 people, with Bolton Clarke, Bribie Cove, Bribie Pines, Churches of Christ, GemLife, Island Breeze Resort, McKenzie Aged Care and Retirement, Seasons Living and Village Life all offer retirement facilities on Bribie Island. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 census data highlights that 58.8% of Bongaree residents are aged 60 years or over.
“Occupancy of the Retirement Facility will be available to the general public although it is reliably expected to have particular appeal to members of the Bowls Club and Bribie RSL and Citizens Memorial Club, given its location and BRSL’s proximity to the site,” the report notes.
