THE recent sale of the Avina Van Caravan Park has a group of Oakville residents worried their way of life will forever be under siege.
The caravan park was recently sold to ASX-listed company Ingenia, whose main business is the construction and maintenance of retirement villages.
Ingenia plans to build one of their ‘lifestyle communities’ at the caravan park and surrounding land. A total of 247 new and affordable homes for over 55 people will be built as part of the development.
While there are sure to be many retirees eagerly awaiting the opening of the village, for the existing residents, who say they adore their rural lifestyle, Ingenia’s intentions come as a very unwelcome development.
The residents have formed a group called ‘Friends of Oakville’ to protest the development. Indeed, they hope to put a stop to it.
Their list of concerns is lengthy. Chiefly, they think the development is completely out of character with the area.
They live in a rural setting and want it to remain that way. They do not want cars constantly driving past their homes, nor houses close to their property boundaries.
Some residents told the Gazette they did not believe that the village would be for over-55s only.
However, Ingenia chief executive officer Simon Owen said over-55s living was the company’s core business.
“Ingenia’s communities are created and run for people aged 55 years and over and our facilities and services are designed with that in mind,” he said.
“Across our comparable communities the average age of our residents coming in to the community is 67, with an average age overall of mid 70s.
“Our market is people 55 years and older and we find that this type of independent living is very attractive to that age demographic.”
For Paul Morton, who is a chicken farmer, Ingenia’s proposal is a direct threat to his business.
“If my business changes or is affected, where does that leave me?” he asked.
“My chicken farm is across the road. We bought it 17 years ago and the zoning was even more rural then. This for me, complies with urban zoning.
“My concern is people along here living in those houses, and if they don't like what I am doing and complain to the council, I am going to have issues. I don't want to be asked to close because someone doesn’t like what I do.”
Peter Norris described it as “sub-division by stealth”.
He said the fact the DA papers described the development as an extension of the caravan park, despite the fact the homes would be built on a concrete slab, was not right.
He added that the area was under-prepared for the influx of people.
He said from his reading of the DA papers, he was convinced Ingenia would provide little to no infrastructure for the local area, although Ingenia said otherwise.
Simon Owen said Ingenia would deliver infrastructure to the village and to a lesser extent, the surrounding areas.
“Essential infrastructure to the site will be improved to accommodate the proposed expansion of Avina Van Village, including power, water, gas, sewer and telecommunications. In addition Ingenia is providing extensive facilities for residents,” he said.
“As a long term owner and operator, Ingenia provides extensive facilities and services for its residents. We are spending over $3 million on a community clubhouse and associated facilities.”
Mr Owen said a traffic report found the development would not take the existing roads to capacity.
He said Bocks Road, Stahls Road and Menin Road would be widened along with other potential works.
Mr Owen said the traffic study did note that it is likely some upgrading to square up the Chapman Road, Commercial Road, Bocks Road staggered intersections may be required by Council to improve road safety at this intersection due to the additional traffic the development will generate on these intersections.
The answers from Ingenia will likely provide little comfort, however, to the members of Friends of Oakville, who all believe their idyllic rural lifestyle has come to an end.
“I look out of my house and I see a farm, there are ducks on it and that is fine. I am going to look out my front door and see street lights. That is what I will see but I don't want to,” said Tony Ward.
Another resident pointed out the irony that they could not build a granny flat on their rural block of land, but a company could add 247 new homes to the area.
The group has found at least one ally, in the shape of newly elected councillor and Oakville resident Nathan Zamprogno.
Cr Zamprogno said this was a large scale development, under the guise of being a caravan park extension.
He said that while the new homes could be moved, Ingenia had admitted the cost to do so was roughly $60,000.
“This application is a gross distortion of a permitted use to try and slip-by this subdivision development,” he said.
“The development is inconsistent with the general character of the area, which is acreage holdings and primary production,” he said.
Cr Zamprogno also bemoaned the fact this development would be decided by the Sydney West Planning Panel (formerly the Joint Regional Planning Panel), which took Council out of the equation.
There will be a community meeting about the development at the Avina Van Caravan Park at 6.30pm on Wednesday, December 14. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Read more: Avina Van sells for $33 million.
