We note with interest the announcement of a new retirement village for Kerikeri, and in particular the comment of Mayor John Carter that the Far North District Council had set up a working group to plan how to cater for growth in the aged care sector, and that Kerikeri Retirement Village, Metlifecare and Kaitaia's Switzer Home are already involved.
Also that it is hoped that providers in Kaikohe, Kaeo, along with the promoters of the new Kerikeri village, will become involved.
What astounds us is that there was no mention whatsoever of the Doubtless Bay area in any of these plans.
It is well recognised in the Doubtless Bay community that a retirement village would be a much needed facility for the area. In fact a local property developer has been negotiating with the Far North District Council for some years to provide such a facility, but to date has been unable to obtain the necessary consents. Mayor John Carter is well aware of this proposal and, to be fair, has indicated his support.
Given this knowledge, it seems incredible that Doubtless Bay is excluded from this working group — indeed it would seem to be a denial of natural justice for this expanding retirement community. There are several recent examples of elderly Doubtless Bay residents being forced, reluctantly, to move from the area due to the lack of a retirement village complex.
BOB AND JAN VARTAN
Cooper's Beach
