Not-for-profit aged care provider Warrigal Care has submitted plans to Wollongong City Council for a $50 million retirement and aged care precinct opposite the Links Seaside community.

The state-of-the-art development will include a 120-bed aged care facility providing, high, low and dementia care, along with 36 independent living units (ILUs).

ILU residents will be able to choose between two and three-bedrooms units and will have access to home care services and respite.

The Warrigal Care Wollongong development is based on independent research which identified strong demand for an integrated aged care and seniors housing development in the Illawarra.

“The research demonstrated that there is clearly a need for very different retirement units in Wollongong,” said the organisation’s CEO, Mark Sewell. 

“The location at the quiet end of town is ideal, and the plans for a fully integrated precinct with an open community square, shops and health services have met with strong approval.” 

The Warrigal Care development will only be the second building in the Illawarra to achieve a Green Building Council of Australia ‘Green Star’ rating.

The design has features natural ventilation, high thermal performance and stormwater harvesting.

The development will also bring an employment boost to central Wollongong, with almost 160 working on the construction of the site.

It is expected that over 140 full and part time employees will be required to meet the needs of residents once construction is completed.

Warrigal Care reports that it already has over 300 older people on a waiting list for independent living units in the Illawarra.