Officials have gathered to mark a milestone as a multi-million dollar development takes shape off Ocean Drive.
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A symbolic turning of the soil ceremony was staged on September 17 for the retirement village Pozieres.
Pozieres Village forms part of the Ocean Drive development which also takes in an 80-bed aged care home, Arthur Blackburn VC Gardens.
The total development is valued at more than $55 million.
RSL LifeCare general manager – Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast NSW Renee Yates said Pozieres retirement village would be a pet-friendly village featuring 105 single-level two-bedroom plus study independent living homes with lock-up garages.
The village will also feature a bowling green, swimming pool, nine-hole mini-golf course, men’s shed, hair salon and gym.
A large community building will include a cafe, bar, bistro and lounge area.
Stage one of Pozieres Village will see the completion of the first 37 homes ready for residents in about June 2019.
Mayor Peta Pinson said our ageing population was connected and vibrant.
“I think Pozieres is going to be a standout for the aged care facilities that we have in Port Macquarie, based on what you have shared with me and based on what I have read,” she said at the turning of the soil ceremony.
The head contractor is Woollam Constructions, while TSA Management is the project manager.
The development will also feature Arthur Blackburn VC Gardens – an 80-bed care home catering for low, medium and high-care residents.
There will be 42 bedrooms with individual bathrooms, plus a dementia-specific wing with 18 bedrooms, each with a bathroom.
It is scheduled to open in March/April 2019.
Ms Yates said the new home would generate 70 jobs across a range of industries including nursing care, administration, maintenance, catering and domestic care.
The name Arthur Blackburn VC Gardens reflects Australia’s military heritage and honours Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC.
Blackburn landed at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915, and after the Gallipoli campaign, went on to fight at Pozieres on the Western Front which is where he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Blackburn went on the serve in World War II and shortly afterwards became the state president of the RSL.
The new retirement village and aged care home will add to RSL LifeCare’s presence on the Mid-North Coast.
Le Hamel Village on Hastings River Drive is a RSL LifeCare retirement village.
RSL LifeCare will also care for citizens in the community with its RSL LifeCare at Home service, providing in-home help such as domestic assistance, meals, respite and nursing care.