State-of-art retirement community set to transform caravan park at Vineyard

A MULTI-MILLION dollar transformation of the Avina Van Village at Vineyard is on the cards with a state-of-art 247-home retirement village to be built at the caravan park.

The Avina Van Village at Vineyard.

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FACT BOX:

■ Availability of homes: Each dwelling is for sale, while the land is for lease

■ How does it work: Home owners are charged a weekly fee for lease of the land, management and maintenance fees, and council rates

■ Additional costs: Electricity and water

■ Entry or exit fees: None

■ Details: ingeniacommunities.com.au

A MULTI-MILLION dollar transformation of the Avina Van Village at Vineyard is on the cards with a state-of-art 247-home retirement village to be built at the caravan park.

Ingenia Communities purchased the massive 19.6 ha property for $33 million in September and will be investing $20.5 million for the transformation if and when their DA is approved by Hawkesbury Council.

Permanent residents of Vineyard’s caravan park will be accommodated, said the new owners, who are also keep the park fully operational during and after development.

Planned houses at Avina Van Village.

Work is expected to begin in the first half of next year with new residents of the 55 and over retirement village expected to start moving in early 2018.

Several job opportunities are also expected to open for local tradespeople, the company said.

The caravan park has 197 spots, including 35 permanent and 162 tourist sites and Ingenia said they do not plan to change existing arrangements with the current residents.

There are around 50 people who call the caravan park their permanent home, according to their new owners.

Ingenia Communities Group CEO Simon Owen said the construction of the new community, if approved, will be undertaken in stages according to demand.

Overview of planned Ingenia Communities at Avina Van Village.

“It will also house new community facilities for residents including community club house, swimming pool, gym, bowling green and other recreational services,” Mr Owen said.

“Ingenia had just submitted its Development Application to the Hawkesbury Council and it will be then assessed by the Joint Regional Planning Panel for review and approval.

Ingenia boss Simon Owen. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

“Ingenia will consult with the local community and will address any possible concerns.

“It is our desire to ensure that we become an integral part of the local community and that we seek broad approval from locals to undertake our development.

“Subject to council approval, the new homes will be built in stages over four to seven years depending on home demand,” he said.

Background

Ingenia plans to run 27 communities in NSW, Victoria and Queensland with nearly 4,000 homes and tourism sites, and a development pipeline of over 2,100 new homes.

In June, Ingenia completed an institutional placement raising $60 million to help fund the acquisition of four new communities, including Avina Van Village.

Ingenia, which is involved with lifestyle and holidays business, has a market capitalisation of $500 million and supported by more than 4,000 investors.