Geelong retirement village to double in size to 230 homes as genU announces sale of sole aged care facility

There’s plenty going on at genU with announcements that it will completely revamp its retirement village in Lara and sell its sole aged care facility just around the corner.

An artists’s impression of how new housing will look at genU’s St Laurence Park retirement village in Lara.

Geelong-based genU has plenty on its plate, with the support service provider announcing a major upgrade of one asset and the sale of another.

Its St Laurence Park retirement village in Lara will more than double in size and all existing residences will be replaced with brand new homes as part of an upgrade that is expected to begin next year.

News of the revamp came as genU announced the sale of the nearby Costa House – its sole residential aged care facility – to the Respect Group.

Chief executive Clare Amies said staff would have their employment transferred to Respect, while the Eric Hart Allied Health Centre would continue to be operated by genU under a lease agreement.

Residents, families, and staff have been informed of the sale, which is expected come into effect in January.

Under plans soon to be submitted to Geelong council, St Laurence Park would include a “health hub” that the general public could access.

The number of homes at the Station Lake Rd site would roughly double to 230 and consist mostly of single-storey dwellings.

New on-site facilities include a community hub with a cinema and library, activity areas such as bowling greens and pickleball courts, and community gardens and “reflection spaces” throughout.

The health hub would provide allied health services such as physiotherapy and exercise physiology, as well as social support.

genU is investing in a major redevelopment of St Laurence Park retirement village in Lara.

It is expected construction will commence in the second half of next year and the project completed in full within eight years.

Ms Amies said the decision to sell Costa House acknowledged that its future best sits within a specialist and dedicated aged care organisation rather than as a stand-alone service within genU.

The same reasoning was given when genU recently offloaded its only childcare facility, Pipsqueaks Early Learning Centre in Lara.

The sale of both comes after an internal review of its services and business portfolios and a strategic decision to significantly grow its core businesses.

The review resulted in 55 redundancies and a more streamlined management structure.

“Our expertise and knowledge lie in our core businesses of disability, community aged care, training, and employment services,” she said.

“That’s why we are investing in the Lara community to grow the services that we are best at.”

Ms Amies said all new residences at St Laurence Park have been designed to adapt to residents’ changing needs over time.

“Expansion of our ageing services is an important part of our mission to create and deliver innovative services and support that empower people to reach their full potential,” she said.

genU is investing in a major redevelopment of St Laurence Park retirement village in Lara.

genU has 220 offices – the vast majority located on the east coast – and about 4200 staff nationally, including 1900 in the Geelong region.

Ms Amies said earlier this month that the organisation wants to expand its national footprint, which would incorporate mergers and acquisitions, similar to genU’s recent takeover of Tasmanian disability support provider Li-Ve.

“We’re really looking at where to invest, grow, and make sure we’ve got fit for purpose services, great facilities,” Ms Amies said.

Originally published as Geelong retirement village to double in size to 230 homes as genU announces sale of sole aged care facility