Aged care centre to create jobs

AGED care on the Sunshine Coast will be revolutionised when the $100 million Azure Blue Kawana village is built on the Nicklin Way.

AGED care on the Sunshine Coast will be revolutionised when the $100 million Azure Blue Kawana village is built on the Nicklin Way, not far from the new Sunshine Coast University hospital.

A spokesman for Fulton Trotter Architects, which won the contract to build the 6.3ha home for Blue Care, said it aimed to create a community within the community.

The residential element will include 72 retirement living apartments, 36 villas and a 70-bed residential aged care service.

Construction of stage one is expected to start in 2014, to be completed in late 2015.

The construction phase will generate an estimated 400 jobs and, once operational, Azure Blue Kawana is expected to provide about 100 ongoing jobs.

It will provide residential aged care and retirement living together in "the one comfortable environment, coupled with convenient access to care services and other amenities".

"We don't think aged care accommodation should be like a 'gated community'," FTA director Mark Trotter said.

"It should integrate seamlessly with its surroundings."

Along with aged care services, the resort-style centre will include other everyday conveniences, in line with regular self-contained communities.

"Resident amenities will include a swimming pool, gymnasium, recreation centre, landscaped barbecue areas, cafe and hairdresser," Blue Care executive director Robyn Batten said.

"Residents will also have the benefit of using a village bus and have direct site access to the Kawana Bowls and Recreation Club next door.

"Blue Care's in-home community care services will also be available to eligible residents."

The location is convenient to local shopping centres, beaches and restaurants, but will also have some commercial spaces available for lease.

"We encourage community integration, and part of our plans are to look at ways to incorporate facilities for the benefit of clients, residents and the wider community," a Blue Care spokeswoman said.

"This includes some room for retail provision, such as a coffee shop, and an allied health service," she said.

"As our plans develop, we look forward to announcing more of the detail."

ALL ABOUT AZURE BLUE

• $100 million Kawana aged care centre
• 6.3ha site on Nickin Way near USC Hospital
• Combines aged care services with retirement living
• Includes resort-style amenities and some commercial space for lease
• Construction to begin in 2014 and finish late 2015
• To generate 400 construction jobs, 100 ongoing jobs

Originally published as Aged care centre to create jobs