Tarwin Lower retirement hub
Site for a village: from left, Roger Watkin, Don Kennedy and Colin West on land in Tarwin Lower which they say would be ideal for a retirement village.
COLIN West knows the time will come when he can no longer tend his large garden in Tarwin Lower.
That thought, combined with conversations with others, has lead to plans for a retirement village in the town.
A not-for-profit, non trading co-operative has been formed and Colin is one of the directors.
The others are Don Kennedy, Trina Jones, Allan Mercer and Lila O’Connor.
Roger Watkin chairs the group, his wife Annette is secretary and Doug Grigg the treasurer.
The co-operative will take its retirement village plan to a public forum on Saturday, at the Tarwin Lower Hall.
The forum starts at 10.30am.
When South Gippsland Shire Council called last December for expressions of interest in shire-owned land behind the Tarwin Lower Community health Centre, the co-operative responded with its retirement village proposal.
Its members believe the land would be the ideal place for their Riverside Community Retirement Villas.
They hope to build 19 or 20 two bedroom units, each with its own single garage, retaining some of the trees and vegetation on the 1.2 hectare site.
Plans include access to the adjoining football club and bowling club, both of which offer meals during their respective seasons.
“We’re very passionate about it,” said Colin. “This will be the biggest thing for Tarwin Lower and will boost its economy.
“The council wants to keep this as a hamlet, which is fine, but if we don’t expand a bit, we’ll die.”
Council’s expressions of interest closed last Tuesday and a short list of respondents is due by March 8.
Members of the co-operative say that being next to the health centre will hopefully have the advantage of boosting services.
Don and Colin are on the health centre management committee and say they will look at ways the retirement village and health hub can work in together.
The site is also close to the shops.
Talk of a retirement village in Tarwin Lower dates back to Shire of Woorayl days.
Colin and his wife Shirley, retired to Tarwin Lower from Melbourne and love their lifestyle.
Their future has been on Colin’s mind for about two years.
He, Don and Roger are regulars at the Venus Bay/Tarwin Lower Men’s Shed which puts on a meal once a month. About 40 people attend and the group raised the retirement village topic.
“Thirty-six signed as shareholders and that started us on the track to register,” said Colin.
Don has written a business plan and Colin worked on the submission to council’s expressions of interest for the land.
Cr Kieran Kennedy said he’s “really excited about the retirement village.
“It’s the key to the future of Tarwin Lower. The village is a really good step forward and will put Tarwin Lower in a more viable
position.”
The co-operative has a letter of support from Bass MLA Ken Smith, the Gardiner Foundation and is seeking the backing of Deputy Premier Peter Ryan. The Gardiner Foundation is committed to projects that have a positive impact on dairying communities in Victoria.
Colin said the co-operative has put in a “fair bit of work” so far and hopes council will look favourably on its plan.
Short URL: /?p=1071
Posted by superadmin on Mar 1 2011. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
