Pinaroo Roma’s independent living upgrades worth almost $5m

Maranoa senior citizens have seen some reprieve from the regional housing crisis with Pinaroo Roma Inc unveiling their new affordable, independent living units project worth almost $5m. Find out more here.

After three long years in the making, Pinaroo Roma Inc. has received major upgrades to its existing independent living units as well as the addition of three new duplexes.

These new additions are part of the almost $5m expansion which hosts 10 independent living units, housed in a gated community complex behind the existing aged care facility.

Pinaroo Roma Inc. chief executive and facility manager Melanie Calvert said the project faced many challenges with funding approved during the peak of Covid-19.

Ms Calvert said the gated community was targeted at retirees to provide more affordable living during the current housing crisis.

“The (new units) have now been filled, but we do have quite a significant waiting list,” she said.

“All of the (new units) are two-bedrooms, which allows residents to have their family come and stay.

Ms Calvert said the addition of the new independent living units were a stepping stone for the community in providing further affordable housing for retirees.

Pinaroo Roma Inc. CEO and facility manager Melanie Calvert (L) Maranoa MP David Littleproud and Maranoa Regional Council mayor Tyson Golder (R) at the opening of the new independent living complex on November 21, 2023.

The existing four cottages that were attached to the aged care facility have now been refurbished and relocated into the gated community as part of the project upgrades.

The project worth almost $5m was partly funded as part of the state government’s now scrapped Building Better Regions Fund which saw an injection of $3.73m from Maranoa MP and leader of The Nationals David Littleproud in 2019.

Opening officially on Tuesday, Maranoa MP and Nationals leader David Littleproud said he was proud to have helped contribute federal funding to the project.

“It is fantastic to be in Roma to see this wonderful project unveiled and to hear first-hand the major benefit it will offer to the community,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Our senior citizens are vital to the social fabric of our local communities and projects like these give them the independence to be the best versions of themselves.

“I congratulate the Pinaroo team for putting together this fantastic new facility.”

The Palaszczuk government announced their decision to get rid of the Building Better Regions Fund in October 2022, instead introducing four new community infrastructure programs.

Originally published as Pinaroo Roma’s independent living upgrades worth almost $5m