Healthy, wealthy and wise at Mernda Retirement VillageSustainability and wellbeing initiatives at Mernda Retirement Village in Melbourne are paying off, with residents saving money and boosting their health, and Stockland achieving a coveted Green Star rating.Stockland’s Mernda Retirement Village in north Melbourne comprises of 275 homes. Thirteen different sustainably-designed villa types offer customers choice, depending on their budget and personal circumstances. And each meets the Green Building Council of Australia’s rigorous 4 Star Green Star benchmarks.Stockland now has three Green Star-rated retirement villages: Mernda and Selandra Rise in Victoria, and Willowdale in New South Wales each boast a 4 Star Green Star Custom Design rating. Stockland has also achieved a rating for its clubhouse at the Affinity Village development in West Australia.”Right from the beginning we have incorporated a range of environmentally-sustainable features to reduce energy and water usage and minimise operating costs across the village,” says Daniel Milentijevic, Stockland’s regional development manager for its Retirement Living business.Among these initiatives are solar passive orientation to minimise energy use, solar powered hot water systems, energy-efficient and water saving appliances and fixtures, and energy monitors in each home to allow real-time tracking of electricity consumption.Mernda’s first resident was welcomed in June 2014 and construction completion is forecast for the end of 2018. The village is just a short walk away from the local shops, and is close to the Mernda train station, which is currently under construction.At the heart of the village is a spectacular clubhouse boasting a range of facilities for residents including indoor gym, swimming pool, wellbeing centre, bar, dining room and media space. Located at the highest point of the village, the clubhouse provides a spectacular outlook. “The clubhouse is always a key part of any village design, but at Mernda it is extra special,” Milentijevic adds.Last year Stockland and Bowls Australia launched a new partnership at Mernda which aims to boost the health and wellbeing of more than 11,000 residents living in Stockland retirement villages across the country. A third of residents say the biggest influence on their health and wellbeing is the social life in their village, according to Stockland’s annual retirement living survey. Milentijevic says the partnership with Bowls Australia is just one example of how retirement villages encourage happier, healthier and more active residents. “We want to encourage our residents to get involved, keep fit, stay connected and be a part of something they can enjoy in a group,” Milentijevic says.”The vibrant community, number of activities and facilities on offer, and the fact that our residents are surrounded by like-minded neighbours in a safe and secure environment is a big part of what makes living in a Stockland village so attractive.”
Home Property Australia Healthy wealthy and wise at Mernda Retirement Village