Dubbo’s population will explode across the next 30 years as an increasing number of ageing out-of-towners gravitate towards the city’s medical services, predicts Gordon Eacott who is getting the development of Horizons Village back on track after months of rain.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Co-owner and operator of the planned self-care retirement village in West Dubbo, Mr Eacott has no doubt that the $60 million investment will pay off in time, despite a slower start to its construction than anticipated in early 2010.
“We’re getting calls from places like Broken Hill, Coonamble and Walgett,” he said.
“People want to move into Dubbo because they need to be near good medical facilities.
“The town will double in size in the next 30 years.”
A veteran of the aged accommodation industry, the developer this week confirmed that two of the six villas already built on a 20-hectare site not far from the new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, were occupied.
The project was now moving forward after almost constant rain in 2010 served to wind down negotiations with potential village residents.
“We’ve got three other deposits from people waiting to sell their homes,” said Mr Eacott, who reported that more construction certificates were being sought from Dubbo City Council.
In all 217 villas are expected to emerge across the next five to eight years, in line with demand.
Couples, where at least one person is aged at least 55, will be able to “enter into a long-term agreement” to take up residence in one, two and three bedroom villas priced from $175,000 to $375,000, but will not have to worry about the likes of mowing lawns and weeding gardens.
A community centre and village bus are part of the deal, although Mr Eacott said the development would not have gone ahead in the first place without the promise of the new and now-open shopping centre.
“The village is in an ideal location,” he said.
“Elderly people like to be able to wander down to the shops. They will shop seven days a week.
“If Woolies hadn’t been built down the road, we wouldn’t have come here.”
Mr Eacott, who lives on the central coast, said seniors were looking to downscale and in some cases be closer to family in Dubbo and district by entering the village.
But it was the base hospitals and associated medical support offered in cities like Dubbo that were a huge drawcard for people in communities where services were lacking for their ageing residents, he said.
“Governments are encouraging it,” the developer said.
“They can’t establish services everywhere.”
