By BEN CAMERON
AN ARGUMENT for the ages has broken out over the grey area of allowing ‘youngsters’ into a local retirement village.
At least 10 Gembrook residents have opposed a developer move to allow younger people to move into Gembrook Village retirement village.
Acorn Planning has sought to remove the age restriction to 10 dwellings in the village which is spruiked as the “only retirement living in the Hills”.
Currently, only people aged 55 or over are permitted to live in the village.
Village resident Trish Tatt said residents were informed by mail on Christmas Eve of the proposed changes.
“(It) was a nice Christmas present,” she said.
“I’m not sure you can mix old and young like that. We have enormous support opposing this plan.”
In a report the developer said the age limit was “adversely affecting the ability of the owner to complete the development”.
“(It) does not change the built form outcome or parking demands for the site, it merely changes the age of occupants residing within the dwellings,” it found.
“(It) will result in greater housing diversity and choice within walking distance of the Gembrook Township.
“Due to issues with the existing Owners Corporation it has become impossible to develop and sell the balance of the units.
“There is current legal action pending in relation to these matters.”
However Mrs Tatt said the 20-unit development had been marketed as “exclusively for over-55s”, with two nearing completion and six remaining to be built.
“We purchased here in 2011, the third unit to be completed and sold, on the understanding and in the belief the age criteria applied, thereby giving us secure, peaceful living with like-minded people for our last few years,” she said.
“We are 78 years old this year.
“Gembrook Village has been, and is still marketed as … ‘the only retirement living in the hills’ while another real estate listing advertising the units with the heading ‘Peace And Security for Over-55s’.
“It is ludicrous to suggest this could be changed at the whim of the developer, it would impact on the quality of life, peace of mind, economic future and potential security of elderly persons who already reside in this development.”
She said there was also limited parking if larger groups of people move in.
“There is much daily pedestrian traffic, no footpaths and nowhere for any children to play safely,” she said.
“I have also spoken to members of Gembrook Township Committee – I am the delegate for this development – and the possibility of a public meeting is being looked at.”
The council’s development and compliance services manager Brett Jackson said the council had received 10 formal objections and a further 21 anonymous submissions regarding the application.
Submissions closed on 19 January.
