NewsBite

Inside Willow Grove Qld’s plans for new Gympie retirement home

Plans have been unveiled for a new a large scale development at the Southside aimed at helping the region keep base with its rapidly growing population.

Developer Willow Groves Qld has unveiled plans to build the 190-room facility on 7ha of vacant land at Heritage Lane, Southside.
Developer Willow Groves Qld has unveiled plans to build the 190-room facility on 7ha of vacant land at Heritage Lane, Southside.

New plans for an over 55s retirement village would offer more options for ageing Gympie residents to keep living in the region, should it get the go ahead.

Developer Willow Groves Qld has unveiled plans to build the 190-room facility on 7ha of vacant land at Heritage Lane.

Town planners Murray and Associates say in its application on behalf of Willow Grove the proposal will provide “an overwhelming economic, community and planning benefit to the Gympie region”.

The facility will include three types of villas ranging in size from 157sq m to 184sq m.

All three will be single storey with two bedrooms, a kitchen, dining area, bathroom, laundry, and private terrace.

If approved the proposed retirement village will be built a few kilometres southwest of the CBD.
If approved the proposed retirement village will be built a few kilometres southwest of the CBD.

The two larger villa-types have double garages, and the third has a single.

Indoor bowling facilities, a cinema, a games room, a swimming pool, a gym, and a library and wine room would also feature in the development.

A total of 542 parking spots are included in the design, with 355 of these for residents and 176 for visitors.

The proposed 190-villa facility will include a cinema, gym, swimming pool, lawn bowls and indoor bowling facilities for its residents.
The proposed 190-villa facility will include a cinema, gym, swimming pool, lawn bowls and indoor bowling facilities for its residents.

Census figures show the number of over 55s living in the wider Gympie region grew more than 3000 between 2016 and 2021.

More than 21,900 people aged 55 or older now call Gympie home.

A report attached to the application by aged care experts O’Hara Wells says Willow Groves already runs a small land lease village at Willow Grove Rd.

The land proposed to house the new facility is directly adjacent to this village.

It is the latest proposal to be lodged over land within the rapidly growing Southside.

Other projects proposed for the suburb include a 436-lot subdivision at Glastonbury Rd, a 308-lot estate with shops between Groundwater and Lawson roads, and a 110-spot childcare centre at Sorensen Rd.

All applications are awaiting approval from Gympie Regional Council.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gympie/property/inside-willow-grove-qlds-plans-for-new-gympie-retirement-home/news-story/1caa86e9dd11fde5b7115f71a0d7f8a8