REVEALED: Bolton Clarke revises plans for Coorparoo retirement tower
Aged care giant Bolton Clarke has released new plans for what will become Brisbane’s tallest retirement village, at a landmark southside RSL site. WHAT’S CHANGED
Aged care and retirement village giant Bolton Clarke has released new plans for a huge new tower on the Coorparoo RSL site after concerns from Council officers.
The new tower’s height will be dropped by one level, to 19 storeys, including a rooftop garden.
Ground-floor retail space, podium levels and facade have also been reworked by architects Conrad Gargett.
The cash-strapped RSL sold its high-profile site on the corner of Harries Rd and Holdsworth St, opposite the Coorparoo Square residential/retail project, in January 2021 for $10.2 million.
At the time, RSL president Merv Cuylenburg said selling their property, which they had occupied for six decades, was the “only way forward’’ for the club.
If approved, the new design would likely be the tallest retirement village in Brisbane.
A much larger, three-tower retirement and aged care project at Taringa was approved several years ago amid much controversy, but owner TriCare has made no move so far to start work.
Aveo is well advanced on its 10-level Carindale stage three tower, due for completion in about July, with the final stage slated for completion in 2029.
Aura Holdings received approval in September last year for a monster 32-level retirement village on the Gold Coast.
The Property Council of Australia said in a 2021 report that there was a strong trend to “vertical’’ retirement villages due to land shortages and high prices for suitable blocks, with 41 per cent of projects in that year mediumrise or highrise.
It said going up also gave developers extra revenue to lure retirees with luxury sweeteners such as gyms, rooftop pools and cinemas.
Earlier plans for the Coorparoo project included a residents-only library and lounge, gym, pool, art and craft studio, private dining room and rooftop sky terrace with sweeping city views and entertaining facilities.
Bolton Clarke general manager property development James Mantis said the project represented a new kind of integrated lifestyle offering for Coorparoo’s fast growing over-65 population.
“As the needs and circumstances of each resident change, residents will be able to transition to alternate accommodation or access additional care and support services within the development, ensuring they can age in place as part of the vibrant Coorparoo community and enjoy life at the same address for as long as possible,” he said when Bolton Clarke bought the site.
The 2693 sqm site is in a flood zone. The height was dropped after a range of concerns were raised by Council officers at “prelodgement’’ meetings late in 2021 Jan and in April, 2022.
That included the bulk and height, setbacks, small balconies, a bland facade and limited ground-floor retail in an area designed for outdoor dining and retail outlets.
“Any future development application will need to demonstrate there is a community and economic need to afford additional building height in storeys,’’ Council said.
But planners Town Planning Alliance (TPA) said in the development application (DA) documents that Council had given the project “in principle’’ support.
“The neighbourhood plan allows an additional storey for the site as it is identified as a significant corner site,’’ TPA said.
“As the development provides a corner land dedication for a significant shade tree, extensive
landscaping and landmark architectural features to the building, one additional storey is permitted for the site, bringing the allowable building height to 16 storeys.
“An additional two storeys are sought due to the community and economic need demonstrated for more supported living and ageing in place accommodation options in the catchment area.’’
It said a new rooftop level did not count as a storey under recent changes to Council rules.
TPA also said retirement villages did not have to meet rules for balcony size required in other types of unit projects, more retail had been added on the ground level, plus street awnings and a more visually pleasing facade.
A report by O’Hara Wells said there were only five retirement villages in the Coorparoo catchment with a total of 538 units, although eight more had been approved or were yet to be approved.
O’Hara Wells said that, even including the Bolton Clarke proposal, that took the total to only 885 units and only 230 were assisted-living apartments, which would result in a 3600 unit shortfall in the suburb by 2041.
The Bolton Clarke tower would have 197 units — 60 residential care facility beds, 27 assisted living units and 110 retirement facility units.
More details on Council’s online DA portal developmenti. Search for 20 Harries Rd or application A006221902
