Revealed: Bundaberg’s new 386-home over-50s lifestyle village approved

Bundaberg Council has approved a 386-site, over-50s lifestyle resort despite community concerns about the loss of agricultural land and integration with surrounding neighbourhoods. See how the vote went down:

Council greenlights massive over-50s village in shock move

Bundaberg Regional Council has approved a major development application for an over-50s lifestyle resort and surrounding residential precinct following a detailed public consultation process and debate during the council meeting on Tuesday.

The development would be located at 150 and 208 Telegraph Road, Kalkie, and comprise a 386-site relocatable home park, a realignment of two lots, and a preliminary approval to vary the local planning scheme to allow a mix of neighbourhood centre, medium density residential, and low density residential zoning.

The over-50’s resort is planned as a gated community to be developed and operated by a single entity.
The homes will be built by the developer and sold to individual owners, with all dwellings including garages and some featuring longer double-length garages.

Residents must be aged over 50, a restriction that is enforceable through development conditions.
The community will also include shared lifestyle amenities such as a bowling green, outdoor swimming pool, pickleball courts, a clubhouse, and a men’s shed.
Additionally, a dedicated caravan and boat storage area with 24 spaces will be provided at the rear of the site.

Council greenlights massive over-50’s village.

Beyond the home park, the application incorporates provisions for medium density housing and a neighbourhood centre, as well as the realignment of Telegraph Road.
New road connections to the west and south of the site and stormwater drainage management are part of the proposal.

Throughout the public consultation period, several concerns were raised by community members.
These included questions about the suitability of introducing relocatable housing in the area, fears that the development might transition to social housing in the future, the loss of prime agricultural land, and the perceived lack of footpaths, parkland, or community integration with surrounding neighbourhoods.
There were also worries about visual and noise impacts resulting from road upgrades and noise barriers, as well as safety concerns related to flooding, stormwater basins, and a nearby gas pipeline.
Some submissions highlighted that the proposed development sits near schools and family-oriented suburbs, prompting questions about whether the land was better suited for family housing.

Mayor Helen Blackburn responded to these issues, explaining that the housing is intended as lifestyle accommodation for people aged over 50, not social housing, and that any change to the occupancy restrictions would require a new development application.
The site was rezoned in 2015 under the Kalkie-Ashfield Local Development Area to accommodate future residential growth.
Infrastructure for roads and drainage is designed to meet planning scheme standards, and visual and noise barriers will be softened through the installation of a three-metre-wide landscaping strip. Buffers will also protect the residential uses from adjoining agricultural land.

Over-50s only: Bundaberg land rezoned for mega retirement precinct.

During the council meeting, councillors acknowledged the thorough scrutiny the proposal had undergone.
Councillor Steve Cooper said it was the most scrutinised report he had encountered since joining council.
Councillor Tracey McPhee thanked council staff for carefully considering community feedback and expressed her support for the development, highlighting the housing diversity and lifestyle benefits it would provide.
Councillor Carmen McEneany was the only councillor to oppose the proposal.

The development was ultimately approved by a majority vote, paving the way for construction of what will be one of Bundaberg’s largest over-50’s lifestyle communities.

Originally published as Revealed: Bundaberg’s new 386-home over-50s lifestyle village approved