The first images of the proposed Hawthorndale Care Village aged care development in Invercargill have been unveiled. 

The Hawthorndale Care Village Charitable Trust has presented the concept design of the ground-breaking project on the former Hawthorndale Primary School site on Tay Street.

Trust working group team member Paddy O’Brien said the project had been a long time in the feasibility and planning phase.

“We are excited to finally be in a position where we’re able to articulate our vision with the community.”

The not-for-profit Hawthorndale Care Village project is based on the innovative Dutch De Hogeweyk model. This fully replicates everyday life in a suburban neighbourhood within a safe, secure setting.

Foley Group Architect Rob Campbell said his team was acutely aware of the design guiding principles to create an environment that deinstitutionalises, transforms, and normalises living and care for residents. 

“The design enables what the innovative Dutch De Hogeweyk aged care model is seeking to achieve, that being a village environment nestled into its surroundings, delivering care homes that connect and offer a calm sense of engagement within the Village,” Mr Campbell said. 

The trust has lodged a resource consent application with Invercargill City Council and will be requesting it be publicly notified. A community drop-in session near the development site prior to the resource consent application being lodged was planned, however this has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are disappointed that we are unable to go ahead with the community drop-in session prior to our consent lodgement but have been consulting directly with the local neighbours prior to lodging the resource consent application,” Mr O’Brien said. “We welcome any queries regarding the development and encourage the community to find out more on our website.” 

Site view from the north-east.

The project is expected to generate 300 jobs during its construction phase and once open create 11 new jobs and retain 87 jobs from the Calvary Hospital transition. 

“At a time when Invercargill needs it most, this project can play a pivotal role in stimulating the city’s economy over the next two years. The way the development has been structured lends itself to use all local trades and construction services,” Mr O’Brien said.

 A genuine village environment with landscaped gardens and streets is proposed, along with a range of residential care accommodation including 13 aged residential care homes, 19 independent living units and 22 residential apartments.

Features of the village include a café, dairy, hairdresser, wellness centre, theatre, hall, chapel, playground, men’s shed and vegetable garden.

An artist's impression of the interior of the care home.

A rendering of the atrium of the proposed village.