Mercy Connect, Kirinari: First-of-its-kind housing part of huge disability service boom

Albury-Wodonga will see a boom in disability services this year, following a housing crisis which forced those in need to move out of the area. FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING PLANNED.

Artist impression of the Mercy Connect development in Kambora Ct.

A lack of suitable disability accommodation is a national issue according to experts, but one that particularly affects regional areas such as Albury-Wodonga.

This year, Albury-Wodonga is set to see a huge boost to disability services, particularly housing, with Albury City Council approving several big developments.

Kirinari Community Services CEO Diane Lynch said while there was a lack of disability housing in Albury-Wodonga, there was currently no disability housing that allowed tenants to live independently.

Kirinari’s application to build two unit blocks for people with disabilities, on Vickers Rd in Lavington, was approved by Albury City Council last year, with construction to begin shortly.

Ms Lynch said each unit block would consist of five individual, one-bedroom units, with a staff complex in between the two buildings.

“There’s a big need for suitable housing for people who don’t necessarily fit traditional main stream housing,” she said.

“There’s all sorts of disability housing and social housing, and most of it, up until recently, has been shared housing in a group home model.

“They might not have any real say in who they share a house with.

“The Vickers Rd housing provides a shared model in terms of staffing support, but provides the opportunity for people who don’t want to, or can’t live very well with other people, to reside in their own units.”

Ms Lynch said the accommodation, a first of its kind in Albury, was being built by Zauner Constructions, and would be a game-changer for people in the community living with disabilities.

“It will mean they can stay in the community and reside here,” she said.

“Where as often they will have to move away to the big cities because that’s where the housing is.”

Being built under the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Ms Lynch said the accommodation was for people with significant disabilities who needed more support.

She said she hoped the first building would be complete by August-September.

Mercy Connect started construction on its new supported living accommodation at Kambora Ct in Lavington on January 28, which will also allow its residents to live independently.

The development will provide homes for nine residents, with five one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units available, with a staff quarters in the middle.

Mercy Connect CEO Trent Dean said he hoped to fast-track construction to make the housing available by the end of the year, as there was an urgent need to disability accommodation in Albury-Wodonga.

Mr Dean said there was a particular need for affordable housing which provided equal opportunity for those with a disability to live independently.

“This issue of accommodation for people living with disability is a national issue,” he said.

“Lack of affordable housing is an issue in regional areas, and even more so for people with disabilities.

“Only six per cent of those receiving NDIS funding will get Specialist Disability Accommodation funding, 94 per cent of those people won’t.

“Some people will live in group homes and shared accommodation but a lot of those people may want to live independently.”

Mr Dean said all the new units would be built to SDA standards, although they would still be considering applicants who didn’t have SDA funding.

Alongside the new disability housing, Albury City Council approved a development application for a respite day care centre on Hoffman Rd in Thurgoona at its meeting last week.

The application included a colour bond shed, basketball half court, signage and vegetation removal.

Councillor Alice Glachan said is was fantastic to see so many developments which would provide much needed services to the community.

“We were very fortunate at the end of last year to have a couple of other developments come forward of a similar vein that help to support our community in a very broad way to help specific members of our community,” Cr Glachan said during the meeting.

“This is another very good development that is greatly needed by members of our community and it’s fantastic that we’re able to support such a development within our community.”