$105m GemLife seniors community approved for Ballina after court finalises conditions
A $105 million over-50s housing community featuring 110 homes, a bowling alley, indoor pool and pickleball court has been formally approved for Ballina after the Land and Environment Court finalised development conditions.
The court issued final orders on Thursday (March 12), granting consent for the GemLife land lease community on land at River Street and Burns Point Ferry Road in West Ballina.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2026.
GemLife Managing Director Adrian Puljich said the development would provide much-needed downsizer housing while protecting the majority of the site as conservation land.
“The approved outcome provides for quality new housing for over 50s in Ballina while ensuring long-term environmental protection across the majority of the site,” Mr Puljich said.
What will be built
The project will deliver 110 low-maintenance homes designed for people aged over 50.
Residents will have access to a large clubhouse featuring an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, gym, games room and community hall.
Outdoor facilities will include a pickleball court.
GemLife says the homes will be designed with eco-friendly materials such as wood, glass and stone and supported by an on-site solar virtual power plant.
The development will be built in five stages.
Conservation reserve
More than 75 per cent of the 57-hectare site will be preserved as conservation land.
That includes 46.6 hectares of coastal wetlands and estuarine habitat along the Richmond River and Emigrant Creek.
The protected land will include mangrove forest, saltmarsh and swamp oak communities and habitat for species such as the mangrove honeyeater and collared kingfisher.
GemLife says the reserve will be rehabilitated and managed in perpetuity with weed control, feral animal management and restoration of natural water flows.
Walking trails through the reserve are planned and are expected to be accessible to the broader community.
Most of the site will be maintained as a public reserve, with the housing occupying only a small proportion.
Downsizer demand
Mr Puljich said Ballina’s ageing population meant there was strong demand for housing options allowing locals to downsize while staying in the area.
Census data shows 47.8 per cent of Ballina residents are over 50, with a median age of 48.
“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,” he said.
He said the land lease model allows residents to own their home while renting the land, freeing capital from the sale of family homes.
“It allows over 50s to enjoy their retirement while opening family-sized housing for younger generations in a market where new supply is falling well short.”
Court battle ends
The final approval follows a lengthy planning dispute between the developer and Ballina Shire Council.
Council relied on 41 separate grounds in attempting to block the development, including concerns about flooding, biodiversity and environmental impacts.
In a judgment delivered on February 13, Land and Environment Court Commissioner J Gray rejected those arguments and ruled the project should be approved subject to conditions.
The court’s orders issued on March 12 formally grant consent.
The development application covers land at 550-578 River Street and 6 Burns Point Ferry Road in West Ballina.
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