FAQs

Catalina Lake Macquarie is a master planned, lifestyle focused retirement village offering 197 beautifully designed lots in the heart of the Lake Macquarie region.

Home to award winning residences and world class community facilities, Catalina has been thoughtfully created to support your lifestyle, both now and into the future.

Just minutes from the vibrant townships of Morisset and Cooranbong and close to the pristine waters of Lake Macquarie and the picturesque Watagan Mountains, Catalina Lake Macquarie is also within easy reach of Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

Many people choose Catalina Village to enjoy independent living without the burden of home or garden maintenance slowing them down.

Some are looking for a low-maintenance base to launch their caravanning adventures, while others are simply seeking connection and community. New friendships come easily here, thanks to a full calendar of social activities and shared spaces like the Squadron Café, bowling green, cinema, billiards room and library.

At Catalina, there’s truly something for everyone.

Catalina Village offers thoughtfully designed, accessible homes paired with a wide range of tailored services to support independent living. Residents enjoy access to a skilled home maintenance team, a full social activity calendar, nutritious meals from the on-site café, allied health services and a convenient village bus.

If support is ever needed with daily tasks like cleaning, personal care or laundry, our preferred Home Care Partner, BaptistCare, is available to assist. You may also be eligible for funded services, depending on your circumstances.

An ambulance station is just minutes away in Morisset. Wyong Hospital and its Emergency Department are located about 25 minutes from the village, while John Hunter Hospital (one of the region’s major public hospitals) is approximately 40 minutes away in Newcastle. For private care, Toronto Private Hospital is just 20 minutes from Catalina and offers a range of rehabilitation and medical services.

Residents pay for their own:

• Electricity and Gas
• Telephone and Internet
• Home contents insurance
• Pay TV, home cleaning or pest treatments if required.

The monthly fee paid by Residents covers:

• Council rates & waste services
• Water rates and usage
• On-site management and staff costs
• 24/7 medical-alert service to each home
• Repair & Maintenance of home appliances such as air conditioners, hot water service, plumbing, dishwashers and more.
• Smoke alarm testing and safety inspections
• Cleaning, maintenance and operational costs of community facilities and gardens
• Termite inspections and pest treatment of community facilities
• Building and other insurances (except for the contents of your home which is an individual cost responsibility)
• The Long Term Capital Works Fund covers the professional building maintenance program to maintain and re-paint your home exterior in the years ahead.

Yes, you must be aged 55 or over.

Yes. Cooranbong Shopping Village is just a 2-minute drive from Catalina and includes a GP medical practice, pharmacy, newsagent, general store, Australia Post, cafés and more.

Morisset is only 6 minutes away and offers a wide range of shops and services, including a train station, Coles, Woolworths, banks, cafés, restaurants and a GP Super Clinic with X-ray, pathology and podiatry services. You’ll also find hairdressers, specialty retail stores and professional services.

The nearby Morisset light industrial precinct is home to Bunnings, mechanics, storage facilities, homewares, car and dog wash services and many other practical amenities.

Yes, as long as the alterations are non-structural. If you are buying your new home ‘off the plan’, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred internal colour scheme and finishes.

Yes, family and friends are most welcome at Catalina. If visitors wish to stay longer than 14 days they must be registered with Village Management. Visitor stays are not permitted to exceed 120 days in any calendar year.

Yes. Catalina’s Village Rules are designed to support a vibrant, welcoming and respectful community. They’re not intended to be restrictive, but to ensure all residents can enjoy peace, quiet and shared use of the community facilities.

If you’d like more details, you’re welcome to request a copy of the Village Rules.

Yes. Catalina is a registered Retirement Village and operates under the NSW Retirement Villages Act. This provides Catalina Residents with the highest level of consumer protections. Please contact the Village Manager for further information.

Catalina is a secure gated community with CCTV cameras strategically positioned around the site and in the Community Facilities. Entrance doors feature deadlocks as well as Crimsafe security screens. All windows and sliding doors are key locked.

No. Stamp duty is not payable because you are purchasing a 99-year leasehold on the land and building. There is no physical subdivision of the land.

No. You cannot mortgage or use your site as security.

Yes. A Deferred Management Fee (DMF) is payable when you leave. It is calculated based on the length of your stay and is capped at 30% of the resale price of your home. Please contact our Sales Office for full details.

No. If you’re on the Deferred Management Fee (DMF) model, there is no monthly ground rental.

Yes. You retain 100% of the capital gain before the DMF is applied. This effectively works out to a 70/30 split between the resident and operator, based on the net resale proceeds of the home.

A $5,000 deposit secures your home, with no further payment required until you move in. This deposit is deducted from the purchase price. If your circumstances change or you change your mind, the deposit is fully refundable.

Yes. You’ll have up to 90 days (3 months) to sell and settle your existing home before taking up residence at Catalina.

You’ll enter into a Contract of Sale and a 99-year Registerable Lease. This lease grants your right to occupy the home and is what you resell when you leave the village.

Yes. In-home supports are available through our preferred Home Care Partner, BaptistCare. Services include house cleaning, laundry, personal care, showering, meals, shopping, medication assistance and transport to medical appointments.

Many services can be funded through a My Aged Care Home Care Package, subject to an eligibility assessment. BaptistCare can help arrange this. Any services not covered by a package can also be self-funded through BaptistCare.