$10m plan to house Coffs’ new Shoreline workers amid rental crisis

“The main driver for this project is the rental crisis in Coffs Harbour and the need to ensure a supply of housing for Shoreline frontline workers.”

An artist impression of the proposed four-storey apartment complex earmarked for Arthur Street, in order to house frontline workers for The Shoreline.

Amid Coffs’ rental crisis, the company behind the $150m The Shoreline development plans to build an entirely new apartment complex in order to house its future frontline workers.

Rowville Park Pty Ltd has submitted plans to Coffs Harbour City Council to construct 27 apartments near the site of its luxury retirement village and aged care centre at Park Beach, which is under construction.

The apartments would not be sold, instead the proposed $9.8m four-storey building would offer frontline workers professionally managed rental accommodation.

Set to be located on 26 Arthur St, just north of Park Beach Plaza, it would comprise of a majority 2 and 3-bedroom apartments.

An artist impression of the proposed four-storey apartment complex earmarked for Arthur Street.

According to the development application, the company received feedback from initial staffing investigations indicating a lack of housing would fail to attract staff to the aged care development.

“The main driver for this project is the rental crisis in Coffs Harbour and the need to ensure a supply of housing for Shoreline Seniors Housing frontline workers, although it is also possible to offer any spare accommodation capacity to the general rental market,” the development application states.

The complex is earmarked for a site near The Shoreline development.

Rowville Park Pty Ltd is part of the Bachrach Naumburger Group, which is also behind other major Coffs Coast developments including Park Beach Plaza and Park Beach apartment complex Seashells.

The Shoreline is touted as being the largest privately-funded development in Coffs Harbour.

The first two stages of the development include the construction of a 120-bed care facility, 74 independent living units, a resort-style community centre and a large pool, expected to be complete in mid 2022.

Work on the $150 million Park Beach development The Shoreline is well underway.

The aged care and retirement hub is also expected to employ over 130 full time workers.

Coffs Harbour’s well-documented housing shortage has been no secret, with the issue escalating in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rental vacancies dropped to zero in some areas and house prices surged as people escaped the city.

The Advocate has contacted the Bachrach Naumburger Group for comment on the development plans.