Closer to home

By Kath Gannaway
DEVELOPERS behind a retirement village to be built in Woori Yallock say they are happy to be providing something for the elderly and the community.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges gave the go ahead for development which will include 13 independent units, a three-storey building, 130 unit nursing home, a medical centre, shops, offices and a cafe.
Pat and Maria Sette, as directors of Sette Brothers Pty Ltd, bought four allotments next to Woori Yallock Primary School three years ago and hope to start building early next year.
The application was supported by Cr Monika Keane who said she was pleased to see a facility, which would help keep local people in their community. “Since I was first elected there has been a big problem with people having to move out of the shire to retirement homes,” she said.
She said she had spoken with a lot of distressed people whose parents, no longer able to live at home, have had to move away.
Commenting on concerns expressed by the possible intrusion of noise from the school on elderly residents, Cr Keane said she believed having a retirement village next to a school was a great mix of different generations and age groups.
“I think it would be a joy for the residents to hear some of the school noises,” she said.
Acting principal of Woori Yallock Primary, Robert McDougall said while the school was not objecting to the concept of a retirement village they also had some concerns about traffic congestion and pedestrian safety – both for students and retirement village residents.
The school will lose the use of a section of road they have been using “informally” as a car park for many years and which Mr McDougall said contributed to better traffic management.
“I think it’s fair to say we’re as happy as we can be with the outcome but will be monitoring the flow of traffic and be vigilant to see children and visitors are safe,” he said.
Two other objections were received expressing concern over development of the site and loss of “township feeling”, while two letters of support rated the development as ideal use of the land, which would have positive employment benefits and was handy to transport and other services.
Marianne Motto, speaking on behalf of her parents, Mr and Mrs Sette, said her father had been in the building industry for 30 years, mostly building commercial developments.
“This is the first development of this type and my parents are very excited about it,” she said.
“They believe it is going to be a great asset to the Woori Yallock community,” she said.