Development application approved for Kambah retirement village

A new retirement village in Kambah will help meet a significant demand for senior living options in Canberra’s south.

The development application for stage one of the 140-unit village, Marigal Gardens, was approved this month and Hindmarsh national retirement manager Erik Boddeus said inquiries were  already strong.

The first 71 homes have been approved by the ACT Planning and Land Authority and 30 villas will be made available this week to those who have registered their interest.

Mr Boddeus, who is also the chair of Property Council Australia’s ACT Retirement Living Committee, said Hindmarsh had  received about 250 registrations.

“The initial response to Marigal Gardens has been overwhelming, highlighting the robust demand for quality retirement living options in the Tuggeranong Valley,” he said.

Hindmarsh bought the 3.6 hectare site from the ACT government last year for $6.05 million.

It occupies the former Urambi Primary School site on the corner of Snodgrass and O’Halloran circuits.

Hindmarsh already has two successful retirement communities in Canberra; The Grange Deakin and Bellerive, which is situated in Lyons.

Mr Boddeus said these villages had boosted trade in their local areas and he expected Marigal Gardens, which is within walking distance from the Kambah Village Shopping Centre, would do the same.

The village will comprise a mix of two and three-bedroom homes with one or two bathrooms, ranging from $425,000 to $600,000.

On-site facilities will include a community centre, function room, barbecue area, library, theatrette, hairdressing salon, pharmacy delivery service and a community bus.

Mr Boddeus said Tuggeranong and Belconnen, in particular, were in need of more options for Canberra’s ageing population.

He said a four-hectare block slated for redevelopment in Higgins would help meet the demand for retirement accommodation in Belconnen.

JLL ACT managing director Andrew Balzanelli said the site had attracted strong interest from local and interstate buyers and tenders would close next Tuesday.

“It is an established suburb and a good locality in an area that requires more of these type of services,” Mr Balzanelli said.

“Canberra has an ageing population that needs to be accommodated for.”

Mr Boddeus said demand for retirement villages would only increase as baby boomers approached their mid-70s – the average age of those seeking to make the move.

Canberra’s ageing population is something the ACT government will need to account for in future land releases, Mr Boddeus said. He suggested incorporating retirement living options into the redevelopment of the Northbourne Avenue corridor.

Mr Boddeus said buyers could still register their interest in Marigal Gardens and that a broader public release of the villas was planned for next month.

Construction is expected to start mid-year, and the first residences are due to be completed in the first half of 2017.

See www.marigalgardens.com.au