Illawarra retirement living company expands into new market

Illawarra retirement living company expands into new marketIllawarra based IRT Group recently laid the foundation stone on its new $40 million retirement village on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. IRT Woodlands is part of a $170 million IRT capital works program currently underway across Australia’s eastern seaboard. Located in Kawana Forest, Woodlands consists of a 60-suite care centre and 107 lifestyle villas. IRT Group Chief Executive, Nieves Murray, is delighted the organisation’s first Queensland care centre is now ready for tender. “This community has been on the drawing board since IRT announced a $75 million expansion plan into Queensland two years ago,” Ms Murray said. “Along with hundreds of local construction jobs, once completed IRT Woodlands will provide ongoing aged care positions for the region.” IRT Group acquired three lifestyle communities in south-east Queensland and the greenfield site where IRT Woodlands is located in 2012 after identifying the need to provide world-class aged care in the region. Figures show one in three residents on the Sunshine Coast are aged 55 and over and one in six is aged 65 and over. Stage One of IRT Woodlands is valued at $23 million. Builders are due to be appointed by the end of the year, with the project due for completion in late 2016.