Churches of Christ proposes 55-unit block for seniors and disabled people in Basin Pocket, Ipswich

Dozens of Ipswich residents could soon have access to “affordable” housing units and specialist disability accommodation, after plans to replace nine older homes with a five-storey apartment building were revealed. SEE THE PLANS.

A major not-for-profit organisation is gunning to build a five-storey apartment building in a popular Ipswich suburb, thereby providing 55 “affordable” housing units and specialist disability accommodation to residents aged 55 and older.

Applicant Churches of Christ Housing Services has proposed to build the block of units at 70 Blackall St, Basin Pocket, complete with parking and servicing at the ground level as well as a foyer and residential unit which could accommodate a cafe or another commercial tenancy.

The five-storey building would have a gross floor area of 5408 sqm and be accessible via a private 7m-wide driveway to Blackall St.

An artist's impression of the proposed accessibility accommodation development from Blackall St.

Plans submitted to Ipswich City Council stated nine residential homes currently occupy the subject land. Other residential homes surround the site to the north, east, and south, while City Centre Parkland adjoins it to the west.

The 55 proposed units would comprise of 11 specialist disability accommodation and 44 affordable housing units, eight of which would be two-bedroom units and 47 of which would be one-bedroom units.

Each unit would have its own carparking space, with four extra visitor parking spaces and scooter and bicycle storage facilities also proposed.

Plans for level one of the accessibility accommodation proposed for Blackall St.

Residents who wish to take the bus would benefit from being within 200 metres of four Route 514 servicing bus stops, the closest being 120 metres south of the site.

According to the plans, the units would be supported by communal areas and an office.

“This would enable providers of care to have a space on site, if needed, to carry out their service to (specialist disability accommodation) housing residents,” the plans stated.

“Additionally, to remove any doubt, the community centre and terrace are intended for all residents as communal recreation space and facilities.”

The 'gold' unit types proposed to be included in the Blackall St apartment block development.

Churches of Christ currently offers home and community care services — including personal care and domestic support, nursing care, after-hospital care, and respite care — extending from Mt Crosby to Barellan Point, Wivenhoe Pocket to Springfield, and Ipswich to Kalbar.

Located about one kilometre northeast of the Ipswich CBD and one kilometre east of the Riverlink Shopping Centre, the proposed accessibility accommodation is intended to provide a “social benefit” to the Basin Pocket community.

Plans submitted to the council stated it would, if built, support the suburb’s population of — according to 2016 ABS data — 890 people, including 250 families.

An estimated 89 Basin Pocket residents aged 15 and older identify as providing unpaid assistance to a person with a disability.