Helping aged residents stay in local communities

Thursday, 15 December 2016
 
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• ​$46.19 million for age-appropriate housing in Wheatbelt and Great Southern
• Part of the $600 million Growing our South initiative

Older residents in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions will have increased opportunities to remain close to home as they age, thanks to a Liberal National Government Royalties for Regions investment announced today.

Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the $46.19 million investment would fund the construction of 150 specially designed, age-appropriate houses across 28 local governments in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, and another 22 houses for key workers in the Great Southern.

Mr Redman said regional Western Australia had an older population profile than the metropolitan area and had an increasing need for aged care.

"Staying connected with the community is a real concern for seniors, especially in regional areas," he said.

"Providing suitable housing will allow seniors to remain a part of the community in which they have lived their whole lives, and not have to move away to get the care they need."

Seniors and Volunteering Minister Paul Miles said the program aligned with Federal Government aged care reform and delivered on the findings of the State-wide Ageing in the Bush Report.

"Aged housing forms part of an integrated solution to create more vibrant communities that celebrate and respect older people and the contribution they make, while providing positive futures for our small regional towns," Mr Miles said.

"By working together, these local governments have developed a sustainable model to drive efficiencies on both the construction and ongoing management of these assets." 

In the Wheatbelt, a total of 124 independent living units will be built in Victoria Plains, Toodyay, Goomalling, Dowerin, Beverley, Brookton, Pingelly, Moora, Dalwallinu, Wongan-Ballidu, Cunderdin, Tammin, Quairading, Wandering, Cuballing, Narrogin, Wickepin, Corrigin, Kulin, Narembeen and Kondinin.

In the Great Southern, 26 units will be built in Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup, Katanning and Kent, and regional employee accommodation will be built in Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning and Kojonup.

Fact File

• The total project cost is $67 million with $46.19 million from Royalties for Regions and $19.05 million from the participating local governments
• The $600 million Growing our South is a five-year initiative to implement major infrastructure and community projects in the Peel, Wheatbelt, South-West and Great Southern regions
• Find out more about Royalties for Regions at https://rfrmap.drd.wa.gov.au