Up to 220 independent living units for older Canberrans could be built across two sites in Canberra's south, according to tenders released by the Land Development Agency.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sites in Narrabundah and Monash have been earmarked for retirement villages or residential care facilities, as the ACT government moves to address the demand for aged care accommodation, director-general of the Economic Development directorate David Dawes said.
"Both the ACT and the Commonwealth have identified several areas of need in Canberra for the provision of aged-care accommodation and the ACT government is identifying land release opportunities across the territory to meet this demand," Mr Dawes said.
The 37,442-square-metre site at Narrabundah could house up to 100 independent living units or serviced units for elderly people, according to the tender documents.
"The Narrabundah site was formerly a nursing home and, although zoned residential, it was decided to target the site for an aged-care or retirement village development in order to increase the supply of aged-care accommodation in a central Canberra location," Mr Dawes said.
The Monash site is 39,864 square metres and could house up to 120 independent living units or serviced units.
"The Monash site was identified as it was one of the last large areas of community facility zoned land in this part of Tuggeranong, which has been identified by the Commonwealth and the ACT as an area of need for aged-care placements," he said.
Latest ACT government modelling predicts by 2020 the ACT population aged 65 to 84 years will increase by 16 per cent, while those aged 85 years and over will rise by 12 per cent.
Mr Dawes said the government has released five aged-care sites to the market since 2015, that could yield more than 600 dwellings.
He said further sites were being considered across Canberra for future aged-care releases, "particularly in high demand areas like Gungahlin and Tuggeranong".
Council of the Ageing ACT executive director Jenny Mobbs said there has not been much choice in recent years for retirement villages in Canberra, particularly on the southside.
"When we were planning our retirement village bus tour, which we usually do in Seniors Week, there wasn't enough for sale for us to do the southside trip so obviously there's a need," Ms Mobbs said.
"Normally we take them to places where the facility wants to on-sell some residential care but that hasn't happened this year. We got the northside one up and running but we couldn't get the southside people to actually host the visit because they don't have anything to sell. So these will be well picked up, there's never enough in Canberra."
However Ms Mobbs said there was a gap in affordable places for older Canberrans.
Pam Graudenz from the ACT Retirement Village Residents Association said ingoing contributions for retirement villages could be anywhere from $400,000- $800,000.
A review of the Retirement Village Act last year recommended amending the legislation so older people could rent instead of buying into retirement villages.
Consumer affairs minister Shane Rattenbury said that recommendation was one of several currently under review by an advisory panel made up of village residents, operators and advocacy groups.
"We know that often those most vulnerable in our community, including the elderly, face significant challenges in accessing affordable and appropriate housing," Mr Rattenbury said.
"I am committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that we are progressing reforms that will improve housing accessibility measures in the ACT."
However Ms Graudenz, who sits on the panel, said her association would support the rights of those residents who have paid ingoing contributions as entry into their chosen villages.
