TAMWORTH could secure its place as a senior’s retirement hub if a bid by developers for a $42.6 million seniors retirement village is approved.

Associates on behalf of RSL LifeCare have lodged their intention to build a seniors retirement village on a parcel of land at the intersection of Moore Creek Rd and Browns Ln. The substantial development would include 57 self-contained units for seniors and a 62-room, two-storey residential care facility, including a dementia wing.

Documents tabled with Tamworth Regional Council state the development would also include a community centre, car parking, nurses quarters, a hair salon, and communal spaces.

RSL LifeCare executive general manager of communications and strategy, Illana Halliday, expected the facility would create up to 80 jobs and be operational by 2020.

“Tamworth is a major regional centre in NSW and RSL LifeCare wishes to ensure that older people have the chance to stay in their local communities and have a choice about the support they receive,” she said.

“This is part of our commitment to supporting older people throughout NSW, particularly regional centres.

“RSL LifeCare prides itself on providing accommodation to all older people and many of the people living with us are pensioners or on lower incomes.

“We have lodged a Development Application with Council and pending their approval we will be very pleased to commence construction in mid-to-late 2018.”

As the project has a capital investment value of more than $5 million, it has been referred to the Joint Regional Planning Panel for consideration.

Local seniors have supported the proposal citing a shortage in aged care facilities for a growing population.

“I think the development is a good idea, as long as it’s economical for seniors,” Tamworth Senior’s Social Group coordinator Margaret Nash said.

“We do have an ageing population, we're all getting older, a lot of us are living a lot longer.”

RSL LifeCare along with, RSL NSW and RSL Defence Care are the subject of a NSW Government Inquiry. The public hearings are under way led by Patricia Bergin SC. In a statement on its website, RSL LifeCare said it would cooperate fully with the inquiry and would produce documents, make timely responses and report any matters of non-compliance with either the Charitable Fundraising Act, or conditions of RSL LifeCare’s fundraising authority.