An Aboriginal smoking ceremony took place as Summerset Group’s General Manager Development Australia Stewart Scott, General Manager Operations Eleanor Young (left) and General Manager Sales Kay Brodie turned the first sod at its second continuum of care village in Australia.
Summerset Chirnside Park, 38km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD, is a 9.2ha site which will include a retirement village with 192 independent living units; a residential aged care facility with 100 rooms, a swimming pool, gymnasium, theatre and salon; two four storey apartment buildings, and multiple dwellings.
It is expected the first villas will be complete at Summerset’s inaugural village in Cranbourne North, 39km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, in January.
Summerset’s Reconciliation Action Plan has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, which the business calls the first step towards supporting the self-determination and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
“Doing business in Australia is similar to New Zealand where we recognise and pay respect to the traditional owners of the land on where we create our villages. We are very privileged to have this opportunity to create a wonderful new community on the land,” Summerset CEO Scott Scoullar said.
