Ryman Healthcare will be able to move ahead with plans for a new continuum of care village on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula after winning approval at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The $317 million development on the site of the historic Moondah Estate at Mt Eliza has been the subject of a long-running stoush with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, which has blocked it on multiple occasions citing overdevelopment concerns, and in November last year moved to rezone the land as “green wedge” despite a planning panel’s recommendations.
VCAT has approved Ryman’s revised proposal after originally knocking it back in 2021; the operator has since increased setbacks and reduced building sites in its plans, earning it the green light at the tribunal, which also sided with the planning panel on the green wedge rezoning and criticised Council’s repeated rejections.
Ryman is planning to restore the site’s heritage-listed Moondah Mansion and add new buildings to the site, which will comprise 104 independent living units and 27 assisted living units, as well as 60 aged care beds to offer a continuum of care – a concept Ryman has been pushing in Australia, which is well-established in New Zealand.
“Because the village will offer locals high quality independent living and aged care options all in one place, residents will be able to stay in the community they know and love even if their health needs change over time,” said Ryman Australia’s CEO, Cam Holland (pictured).
“That continuum of care model pioneered by Ryman allows people to live healthy, independent lives for as long as possible, while at the same time freeing up housing stock in the area and taking pressure off already strained local health services.”
The news has been welcomed by descendants of James Grice, who built the mansion in 1888; they say they are looking forward to seeing it fully restored and preserved from “certain ruin”.
Ryman now has six operational villages in Victoria as well as six sites in various stages of planning, design and construction.
