Clayton Utz helps clinch work for $500m health and wellbeing precinct

Clayton Utz has confirmed its key role in the new health and wellbeing precinct being developed at the University of Wollongong (UOW).

The independent firm advised Lendlease on its winning bid for the $500m Health and Wellbeing Precinct at the UOW Innovation Campus. The agreement between the infrastructure giant and the university for the 7.5-hectare precinct was signed on 26 March after a competitive procurement process.

Clayton Utz advised Lendlease on the entire process, saying that it counselled Lendlease on the contract and framework for the development to ensure the parties maintain their shared vision to deliver aged-care and retirement-living facilities.

Nikki Robinson, who heads the national real estate group at Clayton Utz, headed the firm’s team. Key support was provided by senior associate Lance Bode.

The centrepiece of the precinct will be a $44m community health clinic called intoHealth, which will be modelled on the renowned Mayo Clinic in the US. The state-of-the-art clinic will be the first university-led clinic in Australia to provide inter-generational, patient-centred, and multi-disciplinary health services. The precinct is also the first of its kind in the Illawara region.

Construction on the precinct is expected to commence next year, with the first facilities opening by 2022. The development will include 199 independent retirement units, a 126-bed residential aged-care facility, an 80-children childcare facility, and several recreational facilities.

“This is an exciting and market-leading project and leads the way in collaboration between the University of Wollongong and Lendlease Retirement Living, drawing together the benefits of university research, training for students, and the benefits that can be found through engaging community with an ageing population,” Robinson said