A retirement village to be built in Keswick Estate will contain hundreds of beds once it is complete and will ensure Dubbo is capable of providing accommodation to its elder citizens for years to come.
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A development application has been approved for the first stage of the senior housing development in Volta Avenue by the Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution has been approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
That application is for 70 beds in residential care and another 12 self-contained dwellings, as well as a communal centre and men's shed. However that will just be the beginning.
At the monthly meeting of Dubbo City Council on Monday, environmental services director Melissa Watkins confirmed the proposal.
"The application is for 12 self-contained and 70 beds in assisted living. This is the first stage of a number of stages so we don't have numbers for the ultimate development," she said.
When asked by Mayor Mathew Dickerson if it would be hundreds of beds, Ms Watkins responded "definitely".
Councillor Allan Smith heralded the development as a win for the city of Dubbo.
"This is a significant investment, something like $15 million and with our population growing the way it is, with a growing, aged population, these type of developments will be needed in our community.
Cr Smith said he was disappointed to see a comment from a reader on the Daily Liberal website accusing councillors of making money off the development.
"I don't believe any councillors will make money out of this," he said.
"This is about an organisation that stands free on its own, Dubbo City Council, doing a development, and if anyone makes any money it will be Dubbo City Council."
John Walkom said it was a sign of good forward planning that would draw people to the city and have a big economic impact.
"It's $15 million here but ongoing the amount of economic development it will create in the community is significant and we are planning for aged care facilities in our community and that is also significant," Cr Walkom said.
