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One of the most distinctive aspects of The Oaks on Neville is that it is not just a retirement village, but is fully open to the public, with a new mews area off Queen Street featuring a café, bar and four shops.
While this encourages plenty of social interaction, it also means residents’ security has to be super-strict to ensure that not just anyone can wander into either of the apartment blocks, especially at night.
Developer Chris Murphy says technology has been used to ensure both buildings have fully-automated locking systems to control when and how all the electronic doors and lifts lock and unlock.
“These are secure buildings,” he says. “No one can get into the building, the stairwell or the lift without a security card or key fob, and there will be lighting and cameras covering all external and internal areas.”
There will be an electronic roller gate on the underground carpark entrance and a receptionist on duty during working hours. After hours, residents will be able to screen and admit visitors via a video intercom in each apartment connected to cameras at the front doors.
While The Oaks is an independent living village, meaning there are no dedicated medical or care facilities, there is at least one call button or pull cord in each room in every apartment, so residents can quickly summon help if they have a problem.
“There will be someone on site, on call 24 hours a day,” Chris says. “Their role is to be the first port of call, so they will ring the person first and, if there is no response, they will attend and make the appropriate call on what is needed.”
The Oaks also has a stand-by generator in case of power cuts that will run lights, lifts, water reticulation and heating, plus doors and essential services to keep the property secure.
