Ryman Healthcare is planning to build a new $100 million retirement village in Geelong, Victoria.
The new village in Highton will be Ryman Healthcare’s sixth village in Australia, and will offer Geelong residents a range of retirement living options as well as aged care and specialist dementia care.
Ryman Healthcare Development Manager Andrew Mitchell said Victoria’s second biggest city had been on the company’s radar for some time.
“Geelong is a vibrant city with an ageing population and we think residents will like the concept of a resort-style village with a continuum of care. We know Geelong residents love the place, and it will be great to be able to build them a retirement village so they can be cared for without having to move.’’
Ryman plans to build a village with independent living apartments and townhouses, assisted living apartments, and an aged care centre. It will include an indoor pool, hair and beauty salons, a bowling green, and a movie theatre.
Ryman is different to most Australian retirement operators in that it operates an integrated village model. Ryman villages include independent living apartments, assisted living and aged care on the same site so that residents who move in have the security of knowing they can be looked after no matter how their care needs change over time.
The South Valley Rd site in Highton covers 3.2 hectares and is a privately-owned site.
The new village will free up local houses for sale, create more than 100 long-term jobs and inject about $10 million a year into the local economy.
Mr Mitchell said the site appealed because of its prime location just 6km from the Geelong CBD.
"It’s in a great area and is handy to Wandana Heights and is a short hop to Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre. Our research shows there is a shortage of retirement living options in the area, and we think Geelong residents are going to love the idea of a Ryman village coming to town."
Mr Mitchell said Ryman would be consulting with residents before submitting plans for the village.
Ryman Healthcare names all its villages after significant local people. Ryman’s first village in Melbourne was named after Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop and its village names in New Zealand include Edmund Hillary and Kiri Te Kanawa.
Ryman Group Sales and Community Manager Debbie McClure said naming suggestions were welcome.
"The best suggestions come from the people who know the place best so we’d love to hear any suggestions there are out there."
Ryman designs, builds and operates its villages itself. The company opened its first village in Melbourne in 2014 and is building a new village at Brandon Park.
Ryman also has sites at East Burwood and Coburg in Melbourne and at Mount Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula.
Existing villages under construction:
- Bob Scott, Petone: Village and care centre open, final stages under way.
- Possum Bourne, Pukekohe: Village and care centre open, final stages under way.
- Charles Upham, Rangiora: Village complete, extension planned.
- Bert Sutcliffe, Birkenhead: Village and care centre open, remaining stages under way.
New villages under construction:
- Greenlane, Auckland: Construction continuing, first residents expected late 2017.
- Brandon Park, Melbourne: Site works under way.
New villages consented:
- Devonport, Auckland: Mediation successful, consent pending.
- Tropicana, Auckland: Consent received, work about to begin.
New villages in design/consenting phase:
- East Burwood, Melbourne.
- Coburg, Melbourne.
- River Rd, Hamilton.
- Mt Eliza, Victoria.
- Highton, Geelong.
- Hobsonville, Auckland.
- Newtown, Wellington.
- Site A, New Zealand.
- Site B, New Zealand.
About Ryman Healthcare
Ryman was founded in 1984 and has become one of New Zealand’s largest listed companies. The company owns 31 villages and serves 10,000 residents in New Zealand and Australia. Each village offers a combination of retirement living and aged care.
Media advisory: For further information, photos, interviews or comments please contact Ryman Healthcare Corporate Affairs Manager David King on 03 366 4069 (0064 3 366 4069) or 021 499 602 (0064 21 499 6902) Email david.king@rymanhealthcare.com.
