Multimillion-dollar Darwin seniors housing development moving ahead

POTENTIAL local and national bidders for a multimillion-dollar Darwin Rural Seniors’ Lifestyle Accommodation development have had market briefings with the NT Department of Business

A view of building B of the proposed upgrades to Glenaeon Retirement Village in Belrose.

POTENTIAL local and national bidders for a multimillion-dollar Darwin Rural Seniors’ Lifestyle Accommodation development proposed by the Territory Government, have had market briefings with the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

The market briefings could not be more timely with the results this week of a survey of 900 Territory seniors revealing that almost 70 per cent think they will still be living in the Territory in five years.

The Council of the Ageing NT (COTA) survey had cost of living as the biggest concern for our seniors.

The Darwin Rural Seniors’ Lifestyle Accommodation development will be built at Coolalinga.

The Government has identified a Crown land site option approximately 29km south east of the Darwin Central Business District and 10km south east from Palmerston, within the Coolalinga/Freds Pass Rural Activity Centre.

The area is part of a growing commercial precinct with major national retailers and speciality shops boasting seven recreation nature reserves nearby, and is in close proximity to services and transport in Coolalinga and the newly opened Palmerston Regional Hospital.

COTA chief executive Sue Shearer officer said more housing for seniors close to where they have lived their lives in the NT, more affordable housing for independent living and adequate, reasonably priced services and lower cost of living were high on the wish list of seniors surveyed.

“To ensure seniors stay in the Territory, we need adequate accommodation choice,” Ms Shearer said.

“We know it’s beneficial to the Territory’s economy and community to retain our seniors, but one of the biggest problems we already have — and will continue to face — is the lack of appropriate and affordable housing, whether it is retirement villages or nursing homes.”

Darwin Rural Seniors’ Lifestyle Accommodation Project Director Nicky D’Antoine said the team had also briefed a range of local stakeholders about the development and held pop-up information booths at the Coolalinga and Coolalinga Central shops.

“The feedback on the proposed project has been very positive with locals saying this type of development is needed in the Darwin rural area to encourage seniors to remain in the Northern Territory when they retire,” Ms D’Antoine said.

“It will create an opportunity for Territorians with parents and grandparents living interstate to retire in the Territory and be closer to their families. The most common question we were asked was about the difference between this type of development and aged care.

“Unlike aged care facilities, retirement villages are for seniors that are capable of living independently. Villages offer independence and flexibility, residents can travel regularly and maintain an active and social lifestyle.”

The Northern Territory Government is seeking expressions of interest from developers, operators and investors to construct and operate a seniors’ lifestyle purpose built accommodation village in the Darwin Rural area.

“Potential developers were interested in details of the Government proposed site and also the feasibility study completed prior to the EOI,” Ms D’Antoine said.

A KPMG feasibility study undertaken in 2017 found there is a demand for seniors’ accommodation in the Darwin Rural area.

Proponents will also have the option to identify other privately held sites in the Darwin Rural area as part of the EOI process, and will also determine the type of accommodation and the delivery model to create a commercially sustainable seniors’ lifestyle accommodation.

The EOI closes on 14 December 2018. For more information visit business.nt.gov.au/seniorsaccomm or contact [e-mail]