Ryman wants to develop 113 independent units, a 202-bed rest home and 189 car parking spaces. Those in support cited Ryman's good reputation, the need for a retirement village in the area, high quality buildings, good location, removal and replacement of unsightly and derelict buildings, economic benefits, property value rises and freeing up existing housing stock as residents moved to the village.
The site has two road frontages - Campbell Rd, which runs along the northwestern boundary, and Korokino Rd, which ends at the site's southwestern boundary.
Simon Challies, Ryman chief executive, said an objection had been lodged against plans to develop a Birkenhead site and a proposal for another village at Pukekohe was "in for consent, we hope to start in the first half of next year".
Ryman plans to build up to seven levels at Birkenhead.
Design work was under way for new villages at Tropicana, Lynfield and Wakakura, Narrow Neck.
"Narrow Neck is ahead of Tropicana, just at the design phase and an application will be made by March next year," Challies said.
In Melbourne, Ryman is looking for two new sites, each at least 1ha, between Doncaster and Kingston.
Challies said he had been asked if big Melbourne expansion was reckless but he said it had taken many years to get to the point where development was under way "so all we're doing is committing to land acquisition. We're not planing to build three new villages simultaneously".
Victoria's ageing (75 years-plus) population was growing faster than New Zealand's, which was the impetus for growth, he said.
Ryman could eventually move into other Australian cities.
"We would go further afield in Australia; there's other opportunities outside Melbourne in the main cities," he said.
"Sydney and Brisbane are most likely next decade but they're not even remotely on the radar now. The market in Victoria is bigger than all of New Zealand," he said.
At Petone, Challies said Ryman would install base isolation systems to protect against earthquakes.
In process
New Ryman villages:
Birkenhead, Auckland: resource consent lodged
Greenlane, Auckland: resource consent lodged Pukekohe, Franklin: planning lodged Devonport, Auckland: design stage Brandon Park, Melbourne: design stage
Newtown, Wellington: design stage Lynfield, Auckland: design stage Rangiora, Canterbury: design stage
Now under construction:
Bruce McLaren Retirement Village, Howick, Auckland: First stages open Weary Dunlop Retirement Village, Wheelers Hill, Melbourne: First stages open Bob Scott Retirement Village, Petone: First stages due to be opened mid 2015 Charles Fleming Retirement Village, Waikanae: Independent units under construction Beckenham Courts, Christchurch: earthquake rebuild almost complete
Ryman's Greenlane hearing, ASB Showgrounds, from 9.30am tomorrow.
