IRT Group has awarded the construction tender for Stage One of its $40 million IRT Woodlands retirement community project to a Sunshine Coast based builder.
Following an in-depth review and competitive tender process, IRT has selected RGD Group, to begin work on the community which is located at Kawana Forest.
IRT Group Chief Executive, Nieves Murray and Director of RGD Group, Ron Grabbe, today inspected the site. On completion IRT Woodlands will consist of a 60-suite care centre and 107 lifestyle villas.
Stage One of construction is underway with $20 million to be spent on the site’s infrastructure, care centre, 20 lifestyle villas, a community hall and swimming pool.
Ms Murray is delighted the organisation’s first care centre in Queensland will be constructed by a local organisation.
“Over the two-year expected construction period we anticipate RGD to employ between 150 – 200 local contractors and sub-contractors at any given time,” IRT Group Chief Executive, Nieves Murray said.
IRT Woodlands is part of a $170 million IRT capital works program currently underway across Australia’s eastern seaboard. The entire project is due for completion in late 2016.
RGD Group’s Ron Grabbe said that the company was privileged to be working with one of Australia’s largest community based seniors’ lifestyle and care providers.
“To be able to construct this new community on the Sunshine Coast for IRT is a great honour,” Mr Grabbe said.
In 2012 IRT Group acquired three lifestyle communities in south-east Queensland and a greenfield site (where IRT Woodlands is located) after identifying the need to provide world-class aged care in the region.
“Over the next 20 years an extra 56,100 retirees are expected to live on the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Murray said.
“This new community forms a critical part of our $75m south-eastern Queensland strategy which will not only address that demand but set a new standard in purpose-designed, quality accommodation for people in need of both full-time care and independent lifestyle villas.”