Gated living ‘arrives’

Kim Waters
THE REGION’S property market is about to enter a new era with its first gated community at Lara, according to developers.
National Lifestyle Villages chief executive officer Mike Hollett said the company was already “quietly” seeking potential sites for a second similar development in the region after recently opening sales of Lakeside-Lara.
Mr Hollett said the $75 million Lara estate would provide a “secure environment”.
“Security is a really important issue and this village is for over-45s only.”
He said the gated development, in Watt Street, was an “interesting model of living”.
“It’s not a retirement village but a lifestyle village and we’re very clear about that,” he said.
“A third of the people who work in our other nine villages have jobs and have chosen to downsize and have a different lifestyle.
“The fact that it’s a gated community is up there with affordability as the reason why people chose to live in our developments.”
Mr Hollet said gates to the 230-lot development would be locked between 6am and 6pm.
Homeowners could screen visitors during lockdown to determine who could enter.
“People can come to the gate and put in the house number for the person they’re visiting and then the house can check who it is on a screen before letting them in,” Mr Hollet said.
“It’s a greater feeling of security and it provides a really community feel, too.
“We find it’s a big positive.”
Mr Hollett said National Lifestyle Village selected Lara for the development because of its “growth potential”.
“I think we saw that for the greater Melbourne area it’s a growth corridor and Lara presented a great opportunity.
“It’s a really great, growing, little town and Geelong is a great city with so much growth opportunity. Being close to the Great Ocean Road and shops also is really important because it presents that lifestyle option we provide.”