Aerial image of site for proposed development of 120 seniors dwellings in Nutleys Creek Road, Bermagui. Photo: Bega Valley Shire Council website.
Property developer Metacap recently discussed its proposed seniors housing development in Bermagui at a public determination meeting with the Southern Regional Planning Panel (SRPP).
Since Metacap first lodged the development application (DA) for the $26.1 million gated over-60s development with Bega Valley Shire Council in November 2023, 298 submissions have been received, with 293 objecting.
The proposal for 120 dwellings at Nutleys Creek Road on the southwestern edge of Bermagui is being determined by the SRPP because it meets the criteria for regionally significant development costing between $10 million and $30 million after council had not determined the matter within 120 days of it being submitted to council.
In 2024 community group Bermagui Community Forum asked Metacap to hold a community information session given the scale and complexity of the development and the level of public interest. Metacap declined and never sent the information memorandum it said it would. The SRPP’s public determination meeting on 7 April (Tuesday) was therefore the first time Bermagui residents heard from the Queensland-based developer.
The SRPP is an expert body independent of council and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. On the panel are chair Chris Wilson and state members Grant Christmas and Juliet Grant. Council’s representatives are councillors Mitchell Nadin and Helen O’Neil.
Following a site visit in October 2025, council submitted an assessment report to the SRPP to enable it to determine the DA.
Council’s assessment was that DA 2023.301 should be refused. It said the proposal’s overall density and type of land use were inconsistent with the area’s local character. It would significantly modify the landscape and impact on the existing low-density residential bushland setting.
A slide from Bega Valley Shire Council’s presentation about the proposed development in the public determination meeting. Photo: Marion Williams.
Around 20 community groups and individuals spoke against the proposal. Chief among their concerns was placing potentially 240 seniors in a high bushfire risk setting, on the edge of town away from services, facilities and the community. They spoke about the impact on biodiversity, claiming that the wildlife corridor would be severed, plus the burden on Bermagui’s already stretched medical clinic, and road, water, sewerage and stormwater infrastructure.
While the RFS has issued a General Terms of Approval, Mr Wilson said the panel needed to satisfy itself that it was appropriate to place “vulnerable” people in this area and how to evacuate them in an emergency.
Metacap said it had pre-DA advice from council that the proposal had strong strategic support due to alignment with council’s residential land strategy and affordable land strategy. Without that advice it would not have invested its time and money.
Mr Wilson asked how the “significant habitat” would be maintained. Metacap’s environmental consultant Darcy Kilvert said several of the area’s vulnerable species – yellow-bellied gliders, glossy black cockatoos, sooty owls and masked owls – fly, so they are mobile.
“There is one key hollow-bearing tree being removed,” Mr Kilvert said. “It can still function as a wildlife corridor.”
SRPP’s Ms Grant said given it was an over-60s development it triggered assumptions about support for residents to evacuate and to access services in Bermagui.
Metacap said on-site management meant there would be a higher level of coordination when evacuating.
A slide from Bega Valley Shire Council’s presentation about the proposed development in the public determination meeting. Photo: Marion Williams.
Metacap CEO Nick Jimenez said the development was intended for independent living.
“It isn’t a retirement village or aged care,” he said. “The residents can still move and drive. They are healthy people who want to live in that environment.”
Mr Wilson asked what happened when people could no longer live independently.
“When they have difficulty moving they make a personal decision to move into aged care,” Mr Jimenez said. “It could be local aged care or they could move to a completely different area.”
Mr Wilson asked how the proposal responded to council’s affordable housing strategy. Mr Jimenez said the houses in the manufactured housing estate would be 5 to 10 per cent cheaper than traditionally built houses.
“Your argument is they are affordable because they are cheaper than other options available,” Mr Wilson said. “But they don’t own the land. They lease the land.”
He then asked if Metacap had asked home care providers about providing support on-site.
Metacap co-founder Alex Jimenez said, “We are not doing aged care. It isn’t an aged care development. They have the same access and same opportunities as other residents in Bermagui.”
Mr Wilson said the development was permissible because it fell under “seniors housing”.
He said the panel would determine whether to proceed with council’s determination or defer for more information. “Our decision will be made public within the week.”
