Ingenia Communities reveals masterplan for 10-hectare Woolgoolga manufactured housing estate on Coffs Coast

Plans have been lodged for a new housing estate with more than 180 new homes on the booming Coffs Coast. It’s set to include striking landscaping and even a pickle ball court. Take a look.

An artist’s impression of the $30 million, 181-dwelling manufactured housing estate at Woolgoolga.

A planned 181-dwelling housing estate north of Coffs Harbour is set to include a clubhouse for residents designed so it appears to be “floating” above the landscape.

The development application for a $30 million over-55s manufactured housing estate at Woolgoolga has been lodged with City of Coffs Harbour.

The applicant, INA Operations, sees the project as an extension of the 192 dwellings completed in its Plantations Lifestyle Community at Woolgoolga in 2022.

The adjacent 10-hectare site at Newmans Rd is currently vacant and mostly dense grassland.

The proposed project with the council does not include design and construction of individual homes as they will be subject to separate development applications.

The masterplan design leans heavily on connecting residents with one another and the mainstream community of Woolgoolga. Pictured is an artist’s impression.

But roll them all together, and the expected “total capital expenditure to release the development will be in the order of $117 million”, planning documents state.

A clubhouse with two distinct areas – one for “social connectivity” and the other for “wellness” – is a key part of the plan.

The site on Newmans Rd.

The community facilities provided on site through the clubhouse and community areas will include: Cocktail lounge, intimate lounges, a kitchen, a multipurpose/yoga suite and massage rooms.

Additionally, the build is set to include a sauna/steam rooms, an indoor pool and spa, gym and a pickle ball court.

Extensive landscaping is proposed, as well as the retention of some existing trees.

The developer states the project would meet a pressing need in Woolgoolga and the greater Coffs Harbour area.

“Twenty per cent of residents in the region are aged over 65 years and this is anticipated to rise to 31 per cent by 2036, with over 90 per cent of the region’s population growth to 2036 expected to be people aged over 65 years,” the documents state.

Where the proposed development would be constructed.

“In addition to providing homes for the ageing population, providing ‘downsizing’ options is likely to free up housing stock that is appropriate for the 35-44-year-old community members who are moving to the area – most often comprised of families seeking houses.”

The site is seen by the developer as a natural extension of the Plantations Lifestyle Community completed last year.

The future homes in the proposed estate are not categorised as affordable housing, but as “more affordable”.

“For Woolgoolga, the greatest cohort living below the poverty line were: residents with a mortgage (24.6%), single parent households (54.%) and those employed part time (18.9%),” the documents state.

An artist’s impression of the clubhouse.

“While the product does not constitute ‘affordable housing’ as defined in the State Environmental Planning Policy, the Ingenia Communities’ commercial model provides a ‘more affordable’ option for households experiencing mortgage stress.”

The project site adjoins the existing Ingenia Plantations Lifestyle Community and low-density residential development to the east, and residential development to the west.

The site is located some three kilometres northwest of the Woolgoolga town centre, which includes a Woolworths supermarket, specialty shops and medical facilities.

The masterplan includes 26 visitor parking spaces and 10 caravan storage bays.

The Ingenia model sees residents own their home and lease the site through a rental agreement – with no “complicated” exit fees, the company states.

“Every day, tens of thousands of Australians wake up and enjoy life in an Ingenia created and curated community at over 60 locations across Australia,” the documents state.

The proposed development comes after Ingenia walked away from a similar project at Scotts Head in the Nambucca Valley following a community protest that it was inappropriate for the seaside village.

The development application is on public exhibition for comment until January 13.