Village construction to start next year

Providence Projects managing director Mr John Zavolokin said the proposed retirement village for the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St in Umina is expected to commence construction early next year.

"Great places don't just happen because they are built," Mr Zavolokin said.

"They are the result of careful understanding of the cultural and social fabric of the place and the community that will live in it.

"All good things take time to create and we have been preparing all aspects of this facility to make sure we offer our clients receive the best value proposition that there is."

Mr Zavolokin said "a lot of work" has been undertaken at the Veron Rd site to date.

He said land has been cleared to allow construction to take place, a bush management plan developed and implemented to clear the land of rubbish and weed so that native vegetation and fauna can flourish.

Mr Zavolokin said work has commenced for growing a native reserve for planting in the bush care plan, created an area of native vegetation with the donation of biomass in collaboration with council and connected the site to water and sewerage.

"We have been doing a lot and the bush has certainly benefited from this," Mr Zavolokin said.

Mr Zavolokin said he hopes the final development will be completed by early to mid 2010.

The development application for the Veron Rd and Hillview St development was submitted by Providence Projects in 2004.

The development application was deferred on a number of occasions by Gosford Council because the land on which the development was to be constructed on was classified as endangered Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland.

Mr Zavolokin said he was looking forward to getting on with construction after a long and persistent process.

"It has taken a while to achieve our goal but great things take time to create and bring to life," Mr Zavolokin said.

"We are finally ready to offer this magnificent opportunity to our community in the Peninsula.

"I am very encouraged by the interest we have received so far and I have come to learn that our community does not want to go elsewhere to retire and it will be wonderful when they can retire right here, close to family, friend and the great places and facilities we enjoy here."

Council's director of environment and planning Mr Stephen Fairnham said development of the proposed retirement village on the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St had been approved and it "was up to" the applicant to continue with its consent.

Mr Zavolokin said he was waiting for an authorised construction certificate to begin construction and had received Part 3A approval.

Press release, 11 Oct 2008 John Zavolokin, Providence Projects Clare Graham, 7 Oct 2008 Interviewee: Stephen Fairnham, Gosford Council