Yarraman Business Group plan for retirement village reaches next stage after earning support from Toowoomba Regional Council

A project that could revitalise a small town north of Toowoomba has advanced to the next stage, which could end up delivering new jobs to the community.

Yarraman Business Group's Russ Ezzy (inset) is hoping a new plan to attract a retirement living project to the small town will gather steam, after the Toowoomba Regional Council identified land it owned that could host the concept.

A plan to revitalise the economy a small town in the northern Toowoomba region by building a retirement village has earned big support from the council.

The Yarraman Business Group is now looking for offers from industry operators and developers to advance its retirement project, which would create jobs in the town of less than 900 people.

Russ Ezzy, who is the team leader on the concept dubbed the Sustainable Yarraman Project, said the community needed something new to encourage activity.

“According to the ABS census of 2016, population stood at 864 in the village plus a further 200 in outlying dwellings — of the village population, 35.5 per cent were over 65 years of age, compared with 15.2 per cent for Queensland overall; unemployment was running at 13.9 per cent,” he said.

“Initial investigations concluded that the size of the town would not support additional businesses, and without new businesses the town would not grow.”

Mr Ezzy said after investigations the potential for an aged care facility suggested it was unviable, the committee explored a retirement village-style project.

“After the Sustainable Yarraman committee studied the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care and the government responses, it became clear to us that the emphasis in the future was to be on keeping people in their own homes for as long as possible, and providing in-home care to the maximum extent feasible,” he said.

“This made a retirement/assisted living development in Yarraman a very real possibility.

“Our initial idea of a community board and governance structure would not be possible

under the new regulations, so the only problem now facing us was to attract a provider to construct and operate such a facility.”

After the committee met with Mayor Paul Antonio and planning and development chair Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan in 2021 to discuss options, the council identified land it owned in Yarraman that could host the project.

The council voted at its economic development committee this month to allow the YBG to undertake “a market sounding exercise with commercial operators of retirement living and aged care facilities for potential development on vacant council owned land”.

“It has been indicated to the Sustainable Yarraman committee that council would look favourably on granting considerable concessions to make this proposition very attractive to potential service providers,” Ms Ezzy said.

Ms O’Hara Sullivan said she would love to see the project get off the ground.

“A new facility would not only support aged residents but would also increase employment opportunities for locals,” she said.

“This is a good example of council working hand-in-hand with community groups to come up with good outcomes for our residents.

“The Yarraman Business Group works hard to advocate for the needs of the community and we’re pleased we can support them with their request to explore further options.”

Operators interested in being involved in the project can send an email to [e-mail].