Marc Gurr traded Tasmania’s chill for Baringa’s buzz, and as he watches his new retirement apartment rise from the ground, he’s counting down the days until he can ditch the lawnmower for good.

Mr Gurr, and wife Lyn, will be one of the first residents to move into Baringa’s Plantation Retirement Resort when it is completed in late 2025, but in the meantime, the couple check on the site’s progress daily.

“We go for a little walk around and we have figured out where we’ll be and where the pool will be and everything we have to look forward to,” Mr Gurr said.

The couple moved to Baringa from Tasmania six years ago and have never looked back.

“Obviously the weather is better here than in Tasmania, and after holidaying here for 18 years we decided it was our turn to live here full time.

“We have loved Baringa, it has everything we need, but we are at the age where we are ready to get rid of the mowing and all of that.

“The resort lifestyle will let us kick back and have a drink on the balcony and not have to worry about maintenance and it has a pool and other amenities we don’t have now.”

The resort will feature luxury two- and three-bedroom apartments, all with private balconies, high-quality finishes, and secure ground-level parking.

Residents will enjoy access to a large swimming pool, BBQ facilities, and an entertaining area designed for socialising.

With an on-site manager and a vibrant community of like-minded neighbours, the resort promises a low-maintenance lifestyle in the heart of Aura.

Located next to the Stockland Baringa Shopping Complex, residents will have easy access to an array of shops, cafes, health services, and fitness facilities.

Surrounded by parklands and recreational spaces, the resort offers the perfect blend of convenience and tranquillity for retirees seeking a relaxed, coastal lifestyle.

“It is important to us to have a shop close by and our doctor, and we’ve got that,” Mr Gurr said.

“We are really looking forward to it and the next stage of our lives.”