IRT Group discusses future of IRT Towradgi Park Retirement Village

IRT Group has started talking to its residents and other stakeholders about future plans for IRT Towradgi Park Retirement Village in the northern Illawarra suburb of Towradgi.

IRT Group CEO Patrick Reid said the organisation is exploring options for a staged redevelopment of the site which was built early in IRT’s 50 year history.

“We are currently exploring options for the future of the site and are seeking stakeholder involvement in a collaborative design (co-design) process for the development of a new retirement village,” Mr Reid said.

“With 50 years’ experience behind us, we have an understanding of what people are seeking in a home as they age, but we are always keen to learn more from those who currently reside in a retirement living community or who may want to access these services in the future.

“We don’t have a finalised design plan at this stage, and are committed to incorporating input from stakeholders on the design and layout of the future IRT Towradgi Park Retirement Village.”

Mr Reid said IRT wants to talk with as many people in the local community as possible to seek their input on key design elements which will then be applied in the development of a design plan.

“Some pre-determined fundamentals for the site will inform the co-design process; including the need to meet regulatory planning requirements (for example, a maximum building height of two levels, and meeting flood management specifications),” he said.

“We plan to conduct co-design workshops and talk with a range of stakeholders throughout May and June and will take the feedback from this process into consideration in drafting our designs.

“Following that, we will finalise our plans and share them with workshop participants and the broader community; working towards submitting a development application to Wollongong City Council in early 2020.”

If anyone would like to express their interest in participating in the collaboration design process, or provide input to the project they can do so by going to staging.irt.org.au/irttowradgipark

Media enquiries: Hannah Ellson 0429 361 627       

General enquiries: 134 478