Summerset Group, New Zealand’s second entrant to Australia, has had a $146 million continuum of care facility for 600 people in Chirnside Park, 32km north-east of Melbourne's CBD, approved.

“This is a huge application, millions and millions of dollars are being spent, millions of dollars of job creation, a permanent nursing home and a retirement village for the area,” Yarra Ranges Councillor Richard Higgins said.

“It’s something that is ideal right next to the shopping centres and there’s buses right across the road.”

The 9.2ha site 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 after approval by the Council.

Summerset Group says it will feature:

• independent living in two- and three-bedroom homes and independent apartments;
• serviced apartments for residents requiring extra support, and
• care home with specialist memory care.

Summerset offers a continuum of care model, which ensures that a resident’s needs change, he or she will be offered a range of care and support on site to suit them. If the resident needs to move home to receive care, then as a resident they have priority access to the care home (subject to availability).

In August, Chief Executive Scott Scoullar (pictured) announced it had bought its sixth site in Victoria – in Mernda, also north-east of Melbourne’s CBD. Chirnside Park was its third site, bought in March 2020.