Wetland ‘in a state of degradation’

MEMBERS of a Gnangara country club voted unanimously to proceed with a proposal for a $120 million retirement village.

Having garnered member support, Lakelands Country Club and developer Handle Property Group lodged an application with the city of Wanneroo to develop the site east of the golf course in November.

It will be considered by the North West Metropolitan Joint Development Assessment Panel on February 8.

The club-owned land is zoned ‘private clubs/recreation’ under the City of Wanneroo’s district planning scheme 2 and is a discretionary use site.

Club president John Alchin said the proposed Lakelands Golfview Estate Retirement Village had the full support of members.

“Many members asked why we had taken so long to put forward the development,” he said.

“Already, about 100 expressions of interest have been received from people wanting to buy in the village.”

If approved, the over 55s village would feature variously sized homes, apartments and community facilities including a lap pool, gym, bowling greens, pocket parks and community vegetable garden.

Potential benefits for club members buying a home include a $5000 to $7500 rebate and a seven-day prior opportunity to purchase ahead of the public.

“An attractive aspect of our plan is that it will be a strata titled development so purchasers will have direct ownership of their home and the land it is built on and part ownership of the community centre and all of the other common property,” Mr Alchin said.

“It is not a ‘lease for life’ development.”

The site is next to a wetland area designated for conservation management.

An environmental report, prepared by Coterra Environment, found “the wetland is currently in a state of degradation with limited ecological values” and identified native wetland vegetation species to be planted in the required buffer zone.

Transport consultant FLYT reported that the nature and size of the planned estate would have a “moderate impact” and town planning consultant Urbis advised the village was consistent with the land zoning.

Handle stated it considered the village to “meet all scrutiny that will see the successful development outcome”.

Mr Alchin said the club was now “heavily engaged” in seeking support from the community and government.

“To date there has been no opposition and that reflects the extreme lengths we have gone to preserve and enhance the environment, protect the adjacent wetlands and make sure the community benefits,” he said.