Gladstone Regional Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Philip Street retirement village

A retirement village at the Philip Street Precinct is one step closer to reality after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently. Read more here:

Elderly housing is set to receive a boost following a Memorandum of Understanding being signed between Gladstone Regional Council (GRC) and Gladstone Central Committee on the Ageing (GCCOTA).

The objective of the MOU is to investigate over 55s independent living and accommodation options at the Philip Street Precinct at 2 Dave Burns Drive, West Gladstone.

Council and GCCOTA will collaborate to undertake a feasibility analysis addressing criteria such as the need for affordable independent living rental accommodation for over 55s in the Gladstone region and the suitability of land at the Philip Street Precinct.

Council will provide funding of up to $50,000 (excl. GST) for GCCOTA to engage an appropriately qualified consultant to undertake the feasibility analysis.

Gladstone region Mayor Matt Burnett said the MOU was a significant step forward in council’s commitment to address the ongoing under supply of affordable independent living rentals and aged care accommodation options for seniors in the Gladstone region.

“Gladstone Regional Council acknowledges the challenges presented by the ageing of our population, particularly with high numbers of retirees choosing to relocate to other parts of the state,” Cr Burnett said.

“Our seniors are our volunteers, care givers, community champions, the pioneers and as a community we owe it to our seniors to provide affordable and appropriate retirement and aged care options, locally.

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“It has always been the vision of council that our seniors have options to live, interact and contribute in a meaningful capacity to the activities and programs delivered at newly opened Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct.

“Council wants to encourage our seniors to age here and providing affordable independent living rental accommodation options for over 55s will certainly help in achieving that goal.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to sign this MOU with the Gladstone Central Committee on the Ageing and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes that can be generated as a result.”

Gladstone Central Committee on the Ageing president Jeff Reeves said they were delighted to sign a MOU with GRC to investigate the possibility of developing the Philip Street project in order to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for people over 55.

“Our experience in running a successful retirement village at Telina, for over 25 years, has placed us in a very good position to partner GRC in the quest to increase social housing in our region,” Mr Reeves said.

“We have a zero-vacancy rate at Heritage Village and Dot Horn Place as well as a waiting list of 60+ potential tenants.

“We shall make every effort to find the best consultants to carry out the Feasibility Analysis that GRC is generously funding and look forward to their report.”