Adria Care’s $45m aged care facility proposed for Figtree CBD

A development application has been lodged for a new $45m aged care facility that would change the face of Figtree.

The heart of Figtree could have a new look soon with a $45m multi-storey aged care facility proposed for the suburb.

Adria Care Ltd submitted the development application to Wollongong City Council, which would see a new 102-bed residential care facility and 22 independent-living units built on the mostly vacant sites of 7-13 Bellevue Rd and the adjoining 38-40 Princes Highway.

Adria Care established the Adria Retirement Village in Canberra 30 years ago, which the application said intended “to cater for the growing needs of the Croatian Community” in the nation‘s capital.

The Croatian Catholic Church and Community Hall is situated at 7 Bellevue Rd and the retention of those buildings to be incorporated into the application.

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“This development seeks to bring the city-building heritage of the Croatian community to Figtree,” the application from Adria Care said.

“The development is built around a public square focused on the existing Croatian Catholic Church and Community Hall.

“The adjoining building forms are dramatic, well-articulated and varied in form and materials and seek to create an intimate European old-city feel to this space.

“The aim is to provide a space for the wider community and somewhere that the hardworking members of Wollongong’s Croatian community can age with a sense of community and connection to their heritage.”

Adria Care chief executive Stephanie Tyrell said it had taken some time to get to this stage, but they were hopeful construction would begin by the end of this year.

Renders of the $45m Adria Care facility proposed for Figtree. Picture: AMC Architecture

“The facility has been in development for at least three years to this point, but it‘s been a vision of the organisation for some time to deliver this to the Wollongong community,” Ms Tyrell said.

“We are hoping to turn the first sod by the end of this year or early next year and it would take around 18 months to two years to complete

“It‘s been a long time coming so we’re hoping it all goes well from here and we see some development soon.”

The proposed facility will feature two to four-storey buildings and will include a new community public square, 150 on-site parking spaces and various ancillary uses including a gym, wellness centre, cafe, mens‘ shed and multipurpose cinema room.

The application also cited the region’s ageing population with Figtree and the Wollongong LGA having a median age of 40 and 39 respectively, compared to the national mark of 38.

“This project is responding to a demonstrable community need,” the DA said.

“There is also a strong existing and emerging need for housing and facilities for seniors in this locality.

The need that the buildings are responding to performs a desirable socio-economic function.“

The public exhibition will close on Tuesday, March 8.