Court Clears Way for GemLife’s $105m Over-50s Ballina Plans

Land lease developer GemLife has been greenlit for a seniors living development at Ballina in NSW’s Northern Rivers region.

The specialist developer proposed the over-50s community, overlooking the Richmond River, in 2022, initially planning 148 “elevated, low maintenance” homes. 

GemLife planned $15-million worth of facilities at the Ballina project, its fourth in New South Wales. 

However, the proposal for a site at 550-570 River Street and 6 Burns Point Ferry Road was rejected by the Ballina Shire Council. 

It raised 41 points relating to issues from conservation and biodiversity through to  stormwater and flood management.

But in a decision published last week, the NSW Land and Environment Court (LEC) found that “none of the contentions are made out or warrant refusal of the development application”. 

The LEC approved the application, with conditions. 

GemLife managing director and group chief executive Adrian Puljich said he respected the “robust, independent Court process” that examined the application. 

“We refined our original proposal through the process, reducing the number of homes and increasing the extent of conservation land,” Puljich said.

GemLife scaled back its original plans for the site, reducing the number of homes to 110. 

▲ A rendering of GemLife's over-50s community planned at Ballina.

“The ... outcome provides for quality new housing for over 50s at Ballina, while ensuring long-term environmental protection across the majority of the site,” Puljich said.

More than 75 per cent of the site is to be dedicated to a conservation reserve, with 46.6ha  of its 57ha allocated as permanently protected coastal wetlands and estuarine habitat, GemLife said. 

Nearly half of Ballina’s population is aged over 50, and the town has a median age of 48, according to GemLife.

“That equates to more than 22,000 people living in this region who will likely need downsizer housing in the short to medium term, yet the options remain extremely limited,” Puljich said.

GemLife’s Ballina community joins three other projects it has launched in the state, including Tweed Waters, a coming Lennox Head development and Rainbow Beach, which is nearing completion.

Construction at Ballina is anticipated to begin later this year.

▲ A rendering of the community facilities for the Charlotte Bay caravan park.

Further south, the LEC has approved a 200-lot caravan park north of Newcastle. 

Plans for stage 1 works of the site at 3540 The Lakes Way at Charlotte Bay, 136km north of Newcastle, were submitted in 2024, but deemed refused after the Mid Coast Council did not determine the application within prescribed timeframes. 

The application by Blueys Estate Pty Ltd, a company associated with Carl, Neil and Valerie Dries as well as Joanne Tyrrell, detailed 200 sites for camping and short-term use. 

A conciliation conference led to an agreement with the council. The court upheld the appeal and granted consent for the development.