Residents say outskirts of Torquay is no place for mega retirement village

Residents are questioning plans for a $50m retirement village on the outskirts of Torquay.

A FOUR storey retirement village has divided the Torquay community with more than 200 people joining an advocacy group aimed at challenging the proposal.

Concerned residents have formed the group Save Cypress Lane to stop the development of a $50m retirement village featuring a four-storey apartment complex on the outskirts of Torquay.

Located on 4 Cyprus Lane, the subject site sprawls across 15 hectares of land contained in a low-density residential zone (LDRZ).

Applicant Sincock Planning said, despite density restrictions, it believed the development could be permitted.

If successful the village would include 138 independent living units and a four-storey complex with eight one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom and 4 three-bedroom apartments.

It would also include a library, gym, pool, lawn bowls and a club house.

Greater Torquay Alliance secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said the group has thrown their support behind Save Cypress Lane.

“We have no objection to the retirement village itself, it just needs to be of a height and density that is appropriate in the LDRZ,” he said.

“Another issue we object to is the handover or sale of a public road (Cypress Lane) and public open space connecting Cypress Lane to Deep Creek reserve to facilitate the development.”

Mr Noyes-Brown said while most people are opposed to the village, some are “rightfully” interested in exploring accommodation options for an ageing population.

“It is likely that those in favour aren’t aware of the planning issues and that the site is not a good location for a development of the heights and density of buildings proposed,” Mr Noyes-Brown said.

“For instance, there is another retirement village to the west on Grossmans Road also in the LDRZ but it is almost 3 times less dense and is all single storey.”

An assessment into Torquay’s retirement living market, conducted by macroplan, shows there is an unmet demand for retirement housing that cannot be accommodated by the existing supply.

An under supply of up to 100 retirement dwellings within the Torquay has been predicted by 2026.

The number of Torquay residents aged 65 and over is set to double in the next 15 years, creating a market demand for an additional 340 dwelling by 2036.

Originally published as Residents say outskirts of Torquay is no place for mega retirement village