Living In Lap Of Luxury

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday October 25, 2008

By MICHELLE WEBSTER

YOUR backyard is a golf course, the sea breeze brings with it the smell of the ocean, and after breakfast you might spend some time playing tennis or relaxing in the zen garden.

For the occupants of Links Seaside this isn't a holiday, it's just part of everyday life.

The impressive complex was officially opened by project founder Fred Ferreira yesterday, but some residents have already well and truly settled in.

Gloria Stewart, 58, and her husband Ian, 63, were Links Seaside's first residents, setting up house four months ago.

Taking full advantage of the lifestyle, Mrs Stewart said resort living meant a full schedule of daily treats and little luxuries.

"The facilities are fantastic," she said.

"The fact that you can walk out of your apartment and across a courtyard to a gym or to a pool if you're a swimmer is wonderful.

"There's a spa, a sauna, a steam room and the day spa is coming up so hopefully the facials will be on tap soon."

Having lived in Canberra for 38 years, Mrs Stewart said the decision to relocate had not been made lightly, but the couple were now happy to call the Illawarra home.

"We had been talking for a while about looking around for somewhere that would be an ideal retirement spot for us.

"Wollongong felt comfortable. "It was a familiar sort of area, it's a city but it has a country type of feel," she said.

Mrs Stewart said she dismissed criticism that living at Links Seaside was overly extravagant and costly, arguing it was more than just a residence.

"There have been comments from people that say it's a bit too expensive, but the fact is you buy into a lifestyle," she said.

"You can buy into an apartment complex in a lot of places, but here you buy into a community."

Yesterday's grand opening marked the culmination of eight years of ambitious research, planning and construction for passionate businessman Fred Ferreira.

Chairman of the Wideform Group of Companies, Mr Ferreira said he was thrilled to officially open the project that had cost him so much sleep.

"This is the realisation of a dream," he said.

"It has been a long road, but for a project like this you go through a lot of changes in planning and you get a lot of hiccups so it's not something that you do overnight."

Despite the present economic uncertainty, Mr Ferreira said interest in the complex had been encouraging, with potential residents keen to immerse themselves in the five-star lifestyle.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home