ANZAC Village, the Narrabeen retirement community that has housed veterans and older Australians since 1939, is facing its most significant transformation in its 86-year history.
RSL LifeCare has lodged a State Significant Development application to redevelop the site over 15 years, proposing almost 490 new retirement and veterans’ homes and 100 residential care beds across multiple stages. The $772 million plan has drawn opposition from some of its residents concerned about the disruption as well as the project scope and scale.
The revised ‘War Vets’, as it’s locally known, will see the construction of almost 30 multi-storey buildings, some up to eight storeys in height.
About 80 residents have so far signed a petition against the plans as they are concerned about the significant change in the vibe of the Village, some referring to it becoming a town centre with ten multi-storey towers planned for the Town Square. Other concerns include the loss of mature trees (due to plans for new roads) and residents worry they will spend their remaining living years on a construction site.
But a spokesperson for RSL LifeCare said the village was in need of modernisation and renewal and it was responding to changing community needs.
“National aged care reforms are focused on helping people age in place, and local planning recognises the need for more seniors housing and contemporary care options.
“At the same time, we’re planning ahead by renewing older buildings and essential utilities so the Village can be supported well into the future.
“We’re doing this so current and future residents can live safely, stay connected and keep accessing the support they rely on.”
About 80 residents have signed a paper-based petition to oppose the development, with some speaking to us on the condition of anonymity.
“[The plans] look like an over 55s development, but we’re a retirement village,” one resident told Manly Observer.
Some residents will be required to move from their homes into other Village units, while their area is redeveloped.
“We’ve moved here with the expectation that we’ll be in our home until the end of our days, but now we will have to move as the development happens. I can barely sleep; we’re so depressed about this,” they said.
“Before I moved here, I thought I was in heaven, and then I found out about the development, I might as well have moved to Chatswood.”
RSL LifeCare added that over the past two years they’ve engaged with residents, veterans, families and the local community through various communications to keep them well-informed about the development.
The details
The proposal is a staged renewal of parts of RSL ANZAC Village to deliver new seniors housing and upgrade ageing infrastructure.
“Staging helps keep the Village operating while improvements are delivered safely,” the spokesperson said.
“We understand long-term construction can be challenging, and residents’ day-to-day wellbeing is a priority.
“The renewal will be delivered in stages so only smaller parts of the Village are affected at any one time.”
The development will see a net increase of 430 retirement living and veterans’ homes and a net increase of 50 residential care beds, plus new roads, footpaths, new basement and street parking, at the end of the 15 years. According to the plans, there will be five stages to the development, with the SSD focused on Stage 1.
Stage 1, expected to begin in 2027, focuses on the south-west of the Village and will include 78 new one-, two- and three-bedroom Retirement Living homes, seven townhouses with two- and three-bedroom Retirement Living homes, 121 car parking spaces for apartments and visitors and new community facilities such as a pool, gym and studios plus upgraded paths, roads and landscaping. This stage will see buildings between two and six storeys.
Stage 2 is expected to begin in 2030 and will see around seven buildings ranging from four to seven storeys.
Stage 3 and Stage 4 are the Town Centre and is expected to begin in 2033 and 2036, respectively. This will see ten buildings ranging between five and eight storeys.
Stage 5 is expected to begin in 2039 and will see two buildings, five and seven storeys.
“The Village already includes a mix of building types and some multi-storey buildings,” the spokesman said.
“As part of the renewal, moving from low-rise to some medium density buildings allows more people to live close to services, makes better use of land that is already serviced, and helps create more usable open space at ground level.
“Building heights have been planned to step down toward boundaries and place taller elements away from edges to minimise impacts. The intent is more accessible homes, with more green space, not a bigger footprint.”
Residential Care Beds
Part of the Federal Government’s reforms on aged care include keeping people in their homes longer. This is reflected in the plans for ANZAC Village with a focus on independent living over residential care beds.
Residents who spoke to Manly Observer shared their concerns over the reduction in residential care beds over the last few years at the Village.
“The average age of residents is 85, and while we all come in here fairly mobile, as the years go on, we become less mobile and while it’s nice to be able to stay in our homes for as long as possible, we are all going to eventually end up in aged care and need those beds,” one resident told us.
They explained to us that Village residential care facilities Catalina (housed 40 beds), Milne Bay (housed 30 beds), Tobruk (housed 43) and Wirraway (housed 37) had closed. This is a total of 150 beds.
Today, there are four residential care facilities at the Village with a total of around 350 beds. One of the facilities, we are told, Physllis Steward (housing 54 beds) will close as part of the redevelopment plans. With 100 residential care beds planned in the SSD, that will bump up the total number of residential beds to 400 (a net growth of 50).
“Over time, and subject to detailed design and approvals for future stages, the plan supports increasing the number of contemporary, operational residential aged care beds from current levels,” the spokesperson said when we asked about the loss of residential care beds.
“Future stages will be progressed and remain subject to detailed design, approvals and consultation.”
The loss of mature trees
The appeal of the Village, besides feeling like a village with most of it comprising of low storey buildings, is the bushland setting.
Residents who attended RSL LifeCare development information sessions told Manly Observer that a new road will be installed from Entrance B on Veterans Parade all the way to the seniors housing near Narrabeen Lake.
“I’ve walked where they propose to construct the two-lane road and counted all the mature trees, not shrubs, but actual, beautiful trees that will be in the way, and I got up to 450,” a resident explained.
RSL LifeCare said they are being guided by detailed arborist assessments to keep as many trees as possible, and where this can’t be avoided, their removal will be staged.
“Importantly, the landscape strategy includes significant new planting across the Village, with around two new trees planned for every one removed, and opportunities to plant early so new trees can establish sooner,” the spokesperson added.
“We want residents to see more shade and greenery over time, while respecting the canopy people value today.”
Manly Observer will continue to monitor the SSD and share when it’s on exhibition. As this is a State Significant development, Northern Beaches Council has little say. It will be the State Government that will determine the outcome.
To find out more about the project please visit RSL LifeCare.
