$50m village to be built at Kingston

A $50 million retirement village with 186 homes has been given the green light for development in Kingston Estate.

Lester Group director Russell Lester said over the five-year time frame of the development, $36 million in prefabricated homes would be constructed for the site and brought in by truck.

“We expect to begin construction in March-April and have the first residents in by September-October,” Mr Lester said.

“The first stage will include a large clubhouse with an indoor pool, library, gym and cinema.”

Mr Lester said the Edenlife Australind project would create jobs and be an asset to the community.

Edenlife chief executive officer Bill Marshall said the group had always planned for the type of development since establishing Kingston Estate more than 20 years ago.

“Our offering plans to include electricity from our solar installations and purpose-built recycling centres, reducing Edenlife’s environmental footprint,” Mr Marshall said.

“A development such as this will not only benefit the wider community with opportunities for local business and trades, but will help attract people to the area and provide an alternative option for seniors housing in the region.”

Mr Lester said despite being classified as a caravan park when passed through the Harvey Shire Council, the development would look like any other lifestyle village.

“The residents of the community own their own home but lease the land it sits on,” Mr Lester said.

“It keeps the cost of the homes much more affordable and they pay for the land on a weekly rent basis.

“Once finished it will look like any other home in suburbia.”

Harvey shire president Tania Jackson said the Edenlife Australind project fell under the parks home banner because the modular units were built off site and allowed for higher density.

Cr Jackson said each unit could be removed in 24 hours and was built with a chassis, meaning they met the requirement for the Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Act.