Not-for-profit BaptistCare is planning one of its biggest projects to date, a 6.4ha development in Sydney’s north-west that will cost more than $2 billion. The Macquarie Park precinct would include a vertical seniors villages, apartment buildings, co-living, affordable housing and parkland around the creek.  The project is to be staged across 10 to 15 years, beginning with the retirement facilities that will replace an existing aged-care and retirement village.  BaptistCare has held the Macquarie Park site since 1962 when it was “pretty much cow farms” and the existing assets need to be upgraded or demolished to meet modern standards. The concept plans detailing the new BVN-designed scheme for 157 Balaclava Road, Macquarie Park, are on exhibition with the NSW State Significant Applications portal. The Ethos Urban planning report said BaptistCare’s property and development team set to work on the masterplan after the site was rezoned in 2015 by the Department of Planning and Environment. “For a number of years, BaptistCare has been reviewing the strategic intent of the Macquarie Park landholding and its ability to foster the organisation ’ s core purposes and values,” the report said. ▲ A rendering of the apartment towers and parkland planned on BaptistCare’s Macquarie Park site. The project is to be built across six superlots. The towers will be taller but more slender than the 2022 design and more open space is planned for around the buildings.  The towers will be up to 24 storeys and there will be 11,000sq m of open space predominantly around Kikkiya Creek.  The precinct in total would comprise 12 towers with 911 apartments, 432 independent living units and 214 residential care facility beds. There would also be 197 affordable units, 317 co-living rooms, commercial space, a centre-based childcare facility and health services. Originally a vertical school for 1000 students was planned for the site along with multiple build to rent towers and the BaptistCare headquarters but this component has been dropped. The Christian care organisation has provided housing for vulnerable Australians since 1944 when the Baptist Homes Trust was established.  In March of this year the iterations of BaptistCare in each state and territory were united to create a single national provider. 
