Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser and Independent state MP Greg Piper joined Ingenia chief executive Simon Owen to unveil the clubhouse and new stage development for over-55s.

The clubhouse features a pool, alfresco barbecue area, indoor entertaining, social activities space, and a seniors-dedicated gym.

The clubhouse is expected to become a social hub for resident events and gatherings.

Mr Owen said many seniors were unaware there were alternative housing solutions available locally.

“Lifestyle-focused land lease communities are one of the newest seniors living trends available to the downsizing market, with Ingenia Lifestyle setting new benchmarks in senior’s housing,” Mr Owen said.

“The popularity of the model is its simplicity: residents purchase a new home and lease the land, eliminating the need to pay stamp duty with no exit or deferred management fees.

“With the requirement to pay stamp duty removed, we can ensure a much more affordable entry price point and most purchasers are then often able to free up a substantial amount of equity raised through the sale of their previous home.”

The new stage at Ingenia Lifestyle The Grange is located next to nine hectares of bushland, and will deliver 42 new homes to the community.

The new stage would offer seniors a range of affordable homes that meet the ever-increasing demand for over-55s housing and age-appropriate living requirements, Mr Owen said.

The open-plan homes combine “modern technology, sustainable construction techniques and efficiencies in design”, he said.

Ingenia Lifestyle, previously known as Active Lifestyle Estates, was formed in 2013 by Ingenia Communities.

More than 2,500 Australian seniors currently call an Ingenia Lifestyle community home, across more than 29 locations in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.