After plans for 105 low-density dwellings over eight buildings on a heritage listed former hospital in Mount Eliza, 62km south of Melbourne, was rejected by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the developer has a new idea.
Simon Manley, Hengyi Pacific’s General Manager, told The News “the pathway forward for us is clearer now” and plans for a “luxury retirement village” would be revised after the appeal to VCAT failed after the initial rejection.
The former Mt Eliza Centre (built in the 19th century as a family mansion), pool house and chapel would be retained and restored and “refurbished respectfully” in new plans for the 3.41ha site to go to council.
The $160 million retirement community would be called Beachleigh.
“Our mission to provide a development like nothing else on offer in the retirement living space is still the focus for us for this site. We look forward to working with council on the revised submission of the master plan when it is ready,” Simon said.
Manley said after VCAT’s decision that VCAT and council’s planning officers supported the land being used as a retirement village.
“We have been inundated with purchaser inquiries since the initial website launch and will keep them informed of the timeline as it progresses,” he said. “The supply of luxury retirement community products in the area is clearly lacking. We have an ageing population that needs a vibrant mix of housing options allowing them to remain living in the area.”
In the 2021 Census, 43.6% of Mount Eliza’s population was listed as being aged 50 and over – an increase from 40.8 % in the 2016 Census.
