Swansea Tasmania: Plan for aged care, shops, 105-lot subdivision

A developer has revealed he will be applying to the Planning Commission to get a massive East Coast residential estate off the ground, with future plans to also develop an aged care facility.

A Hobart-based developer has revealed he will be applying to the Tasmanian Planning Commission in the coming months, seeking permission for a massive 100–105 lot residential subdivision which includes food and retail and possibly aged care in the future.

Andrew McCullagh, director of Red Panda Property Group, which is also behind the planned redevelopment of heritage-listed Morris’ Store, told The Mercury his proposed site, Red Banks Estate at 13512B Tasman Hwy, Swansea, is zoned rural and has been earmarked for future development by Glamorgan-Spring Bay Council.

Mr McCullagh’s proposal involves subdividing the southern portion of the site into 100–105 lots, mostly detached residential dwellings but also with a portion of townhouses/units, and reserving the northern portion of the site for a future aged care facility.

The Tasman Hwy frontage of the residential subdivision would be home to a relocated IGA Everyday Swansea, which will be forced to move for the Morris’ Store redevelopment, and other shops.

At the opposite end of the site, another mixed-use urban building would be constructed under the plans, possibly housing a cafe/restaurant.

That building would be at the start of a proposed six metre wide walkway to the mouth of the Meredith River, which could eventually, with the construction of a bridge, link residents of Dolphin Sands to Swansea without them having to traverse the highway.

“People from the Dolphin Sands area want to propose a bridge across Meredith River, they reckon they can fund it via government grants,” Mr McCullagh said.

The developer, who owns a holiday home in Swansea, said both his proposed developments, Red Banks and Morris’ Store, needed to be viewed as one whole.

“It’s sensible and not over-the-top development,” he said.

“They complement each other, it’s not bastardising the town

“I’m trying to make the town a more go-to destination for people to stay a couple days rather than just drive through.

“Swansea has something like six to eight vineyards around it, it’s one of the more up-and-coming areas.

“The East Coast is hot to trot.”

Mr McCullagh said he is in the process of finalising planning reports on the project before submitting his indicative plans to council.

Council would then prepare a submission to the TPC for the land to be rezoned if they supported it.

This would be the second attempt at getting an aged-care facility off the ground in Swansea.

Earlier this year, the TPC knocked back a proposal by Tempus Village Management Pty Ltd to construct a 200-bed facility about 4km south of Swansea on Kelvedon Estate, land zoned significant agricultural and therefore, under the Planning Scheme, land presumed unsuitable for non-agricultural development.

Originally published as Swansea Tasmania: Plan for aged care, shops, 105-lot subdivision