Village an 'asset' to the community

Gwenda Merriman, Western Bay of Plenty Deputy Mayor, and Julian Cook, Summerset CEO, officially open the new Summerset by the Sea Katikati Village.

Retirement village operator Summerset opened its $5 million village centre in Katikati last week and plans another $11 million of investment on the site.

The building was opened by Summerset chief executive Julian Cook and Western Bay of Plenty deputy mayor Gwenda Merriman.

The Village Centre is home to recreational facilities including a spa, lounges, hair salon, bowling green and cafe. The additional investment will add a 49-bed care centre providing rest home and hospital-level care, and further amenities such as a swimming pool.

When completed, the village will be home to some 230 people, with about 180 homes including villas and apartments.

Mr Cook said the village centre represented a significant investment in the Bay of Plenty.

"We wanted to build a village where people can live easily and are looked after no matter their stage of life."

Summerset is one of three listed retirement village operators and recently built its 2000th unit at Katikati. The company says it is on track to build 250 retirement units at multiple sites around the country this year.

Summerset chief financial officer Scott Scoullar said he expected the Katikati village would be completed by 2017-18, depending on the take up of units. Summerset estimated up to 300 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs would be created during the Katikati construction, with the home offering 30 FTE jobs when it was fully operational.

"There will be a full spectrum of jobs, from village and property managers to caregivers, but probably the biggest component will be caregivers and nurses," Mr Scoullar .

Ms Merriman described the Katikati home as great asset for the community in terms of jobs, but also for those who needed care. "Demographers predict that the ageing population trend in the Western Bay of Plenty will result in one-third of the population being aged 65 or older by 2033. Ms Merriman said retirement industry companies could invest in the Western Bay in the knowledge there was a collaborative planning approach to understand and respond to the range of challenges and opportunities brought about by the population's ageing.