Longstanding Gold Coast developer Raptis has acquired a prime development site on Surf Parade for its next Broadbeach apartment project.

Progressing towards completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-sterling-broadbeach-6-8-george-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Sterling Broadbeach</a>, 90 apartments on nearby George Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a>, led by second-generation family man Evan Raptis, has picked up a block on the corner of Surf Parade and First Avenue.

The site had been earmarked for a luxury apartment project with 33 full-floor apartments across a 37-storey tower. Raptis will go back to the drawing board and create a building more appropriate for the site. The development application will be lodged later this month.

Evan Raptis told Apartments.com.au the site ticks all the boxes.

"Broadbeach is a suburb we've developed several buildings over the years. Surf Parade ticks all the boxes for the type of apartment development we want to deliver."

Raptis had several pre-lodgement meetings with council to ensure they are aligned in the development.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0d58573-07a4-47a8-9f5e-fbf35fb03dc3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-05%20at%204.58.23%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iczZEd_4_o4UL0PHMPJGfy_q3tv96J5i" />

Surf Parade has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular streets in Broadbeach for development.

South East Queensland developer Mosaic Property Group kicked it off with Marella by Mosaic. Bassar Group sold out Infinity on the street, while for its&nbsp;first Gold Coast development, Polycell grabbed a Surf Parade site for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rochester-broadbeach-143-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Rochester</a>, which is nearly sold out.

Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched its fourth Gold Coast project on the exclusive strip. The Eveleigh Broadbeach will have 100 apartments across a 31-storey building designed by Rothelowman.

GV Property Group site development specialists Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who both amalgamate sites and sell shovel-ready sites to developers up and down the Gold Coast, sold Surf Parade to Raptis.

Joel Robinson

Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development

Less than two years after breaking ground, Gardner Vaughan Group is celebrating the topping out of Bask, its second development in the exclusive coastal enclave of Bokarina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.&nbsp;

Located only minutes from the beachfront, the two seven-storey luxury apartment towers, known individually as Mydas and Caretta, offer a selection of one-to-four-bedroom residences with views of Lake Kawana, the Glasshouse Mountains, and Bokarina Beach.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333359]

Gardner Vaughan Group Commercial Director Sam Gardner said the milestone marks the home stretch for construction, with first residents expected to be able to move in from Spring 2026.&nbsp;

“This is a significant milestone in bringing this development to life and represents our confidence in this region’s long-term growth and appeal,” Gardner said.&nbsp;

“With 85 per cent of apartments already sold, buyers are joining an established, coastal village that offers the very best of the Sunshine Coast – seasonally patrolled surf beaches, renowned restaurants, and links to established health and retail.&nbsp;

“The final collection of three- and four- bedroom apartments range in size from 127sqm to 300sqm, each with two or three secure car parks and storage, and with construction fast approaching completion we don’t expect the last few apartments to remain on the market for long.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333362]

Local restaurateur Luke Stringer, who co-owns and manages the award-winning Bocca Italian and Playa Mexican restaurants in Bokarina, has lived in the beachside suburb for 18 months and worked there for more than three years, and said the beachside suburb was thriving.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say Bokarina is finally stepping into the sun and there’s a lot to love about the place,"&nbsp;Stringer said.

"It’s such a great community, where you see the same smiling faces every morning and everything’s within easy reach – it’s the perfect hub in the middle of the Sunshine Coast.

“When we first opened Bocca Italian, we were the lone restaurant, but it’s been amazing to see how the area has grown. The more venues that open, the busier it gets for everyone. When Playa Mexican opened its first Saturday night, Bocca had a record night and Playa was packed too, which blew us away how everyone is thriving.&nbsp;

“There’s a great energy around the place now, and people are really embracing Bokarina as a food and lifestyle destination.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363368]

Stringer joined other buyers at Bask Bokarina and the Gardner Vaughan Group team to celebrate the topping out at a special event in February.&nbsp;

Located in Kawana Waters, midway between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Bokarina locals enjoy scenic walking paths around Lake Kawana, playgrounds, beachfront boardwalk and parklands, alongside all the convenience of a masterplanned beachside community.&nbsp;

“You see people jogging or swimming in the morning, then grabbing coffee at the cafes, people are really embracing the area and all this growth is bringing more people to Bokarina,” Stringer added.&nbsp;

To take advantage of the vistas, each of the 135 apartments at Bask is designed with full size windows and high ceilings that provide an abundance of natural light.&nbsp;

Prices for the remaining three-bedroom apartments start at $1,599,000 and four-bedroom apartments start at $3,149,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363369]

The mixed-use development also features ground-level retail space for cafés, dining options and boutiques, including the soon-to-be-opened ‘Corner Shop’, by the team behind Noosa’s well known ‘Organika’.

Sam Gardner said Gardner Vaughan Group’s 37-year history building and developing across South East Queensland has contributed to the success of its second development in Bokarina, which follows the recently completed Zinc Apartments.&nbsp;

“We care how people live and this is reflected in the way we approach the design and delivery of every development,” he said. “Furthermore, as a builder-developer we have full control over the construction program and our 100 per cent completion rate is something people can draw confidence from.”&nbsp;

Founded by civil engineers Guy Gardner and Darryl Vaughan in 1989, the family-owned business has evolved from a consultancy firm to an award-winning builder-developer, with projects across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141609]

Gardner Vaughan Group tops out Bask Bokarina apartments

Prolific Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has launched its fourth new Gold Coast development in as many years.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a>, led by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum, has unveiled The Eveleigh, on a prime 1,100 sqm site at 7-9 Surf Parade in the heart of Broadbeach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a> will deliver 100 apartments across 31 levels, making it the company’s largest Gold Coast project to date. It builds on the success of its three earlier developments, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach">The Hemingway in Palm Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/emerson-kirra-100-musgrave-street-coolangatta">The Emerson at Kirra</a>, both completed, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yves-mermaid-beach-7-9-mermaid-avenue-mermaid-beach">Yves Mermaid Beach</a>, which is nearing completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

The announcement of The Eveleigh affirms the company’s sustained confidence in the Gold Coast market which continues to remain undersupplied. It also increases the value of Hirsch &amp; Fa​igen’s Gold Coast development portfolio to more than $700 million since the company first entered the market in 2021 with Hemingway.

The company has enlisted its preferred architecture firm Rothelowman to design The Eveleigh, which will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle, including a substantial wellness precinct, communal recreation areas, children’s play spaces, work-from-home facilities, and shared lounge and dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

Designed for the prime market demographic of downsizers and interstate lifestyle investors in mind, The Eveleigh has been crafted to offer an increasingly rare blend of affordable luxury in a tightly held market. Uniquely positioned in the heart of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after lifestyle suburb of Broadbeach, the project will also boast uninterrupted beach and hinterland views.

The Surf Parade site is just a short walk to the bustling Broadbeach dining and retail precinct, Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and convention centre, and an easy stroll to Kurrawa Beach and the recreational amenity of Pratten Park on the Broadbeach foreshore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

“We’re excited to be proceeding with our fourth project on the Gold Coast in what is certain to become the new luxury precinct in Broadbeach,” says Anthony Bueti, the CFO of Hirsch &amp;a​mp; Faigen and a shareholder of the group.

“With the likes of Mosa​ic and Abedian &amp;a​mp; Co also launching quality projects in the area, the transformation will cement Broadbeach as the premier lifestyle and amenity suburb on the Gold Coast.

"After four years in the Gold Coast market, and with three successful projects completed, The Eveleigh is the product of everything we have learned to love about the Gold Coast and it will be an incredible addition to our growing portfolio in one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We continue to remain very confident in the high-end Gold Coast property market.”

Urban Activation Director Matt George is handling sales for The Eveleigh, having sold out The Emerson, The Hemingway, and Yves, all before construction was completed.

Melbourne builder MAXCON has already commenced construction on The Eveleigh. They are forecasting a mid-2028 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Hirsch & Faigen unveils The Eveleigh in Broadbeach

Two years after securing development approval for the final stage of its award-winning Thornton Precinct on the doorstep of Penrith Station, Urban Property Group is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mayfair-on-penrith-172-lord-sheffield-circuit-penrith-nsw-2750">Mayfair on Penrith</a>, around 400 apartments designed to reflect two of Sydney’s most iconic structures.

The builder-developer has continued refining the design plans for the two-building development on a significant 8,280 sqm site on Sheffield Circuit, recognising the importance of the prime parcel as one of the closest developable sites to the station.

UPG enlisted architecture firm SJB to design the project. The team said they drew inspiration from both the General Post Office in Martin Place and East Circular Quay to help shape the design. The two-level colonnade, in particular, reflects the famous GPO building, which dates back to the 1860s.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362014]

There will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with interiors by Cox Architecture. Residences will sit above a retail podium featuring hospitality and lifestyle operators such as One Playground and Volcano’s Steakhouse, contributing to an activated ground plane within the broader Thornton precinct.

A communal rooftop with a pool and views towards the Blue Mountains will provide shared open space for residents. The development is positioned between Ron Mulock Oval and Westfield Penrith, with the Nepean River and Great River Walk also nearby, placing daily amenity and green space within walking distance.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362015]

Mayfair is being delivered by Urban Property Group, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly 40 years’ experience across Sydney. The project will be the first in Penrith to be offered with Resilience Insurance’s 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, which Urban Property Group has adopted across a number of its recent developments. The developer also has a 4.5-star iCIRT rating, one of the best ratings in market providing further confidence to buyers.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said providing additional assurance to off-the-plan buyers has become increasingly important.

“Anything we can do to give confidence in our product is a plus,” Elias told Apartments.com.au.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. They’re making their single large investment, which is their home, and providing confidence is something that we feel is paramount.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362020]

The LDI policy provides a 10-year warranty covering structural defects, with independent inspections carried out during construction and protection for owners if defects arise post-completion.

Mayfair represents Urban Property Group’s sixth and final development within Thornton, consolidating the masterplanned precinct immediately east of the station.

The developer, which builds its own projects, has already commenced construction. SRM Residential is handling the sales campaign.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136726]

Urban Property Group to close the curtain on award-winning Thornton precinct with Mayfair on Penrith release

Investor appetite for Queenstown apartments is strengthening as supply constraints and four-season tourism continue to underpin demand across the alpine region.

In Frankton’s masterplanned Remarkables Park precinct,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>’s 141-apartment Mountain Oak development is attracting repeat and yield-focused buyers seeking exposure to that market dynamic.

Brandon, who specifically targeted Queenstown as an investment location, said the combination of price point and limited new supply made Mountain Oak stand out.

“It is a quality product in a location that struggles to densify,” he said, referencing Queenstown’s land-locked geography and development limitations.

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/658d4f_48c3ec1ae5df4a2cab7d23c07c7f51b3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=27K8oQ4ExDN8Yu70VHDa9Olq59XU36m3" />

Having spent significant time in the region, Brandon pointed to its global reputation and consistent visitation as key fundamentals.

“Queenstown is a known destination from people all over the world. The place is land locked and there are issues building there. It’s also busy all year round.”

That four-season economy, driven by skiing and snowboarding in winter and hiking, cycling and water-based tourism in summer, was also central to Sherry’s decision to invest.

“I believe the four-season tourism has major appeal as it would ensure that the property will not remain empty, unlike other areas in NZ,” she said.

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Living_WEB.jpg?VersionId=3LglY20Jp_MAzQYdvwODRWvtjL.cZcqI" />

Mountain Oak has been structured to respond to that sustained demand, with 365-day visitor accommodation consent underpinning a mix of one-bedroom, flexi, two-bedroom and dual-key configurations that can operate as either short-term visitor accommodation or long-term rental housing. Dual-key apartments comprise two self-contained residences on one title, allowing owners to generate dual income streams or occupy one side while leasing the other.&nbsp;

Under Safari Group’s optional visitor accommodation management model, owners receive 60 per cent of the annual income generated by their apartment, with 24/7 on-site management, guest services and listing exposure included. Independent appraisal modelling suggests gross yields of up to 15 per cent for certain two-bedroom configurations, based on estimated nightly rates and occupancy assumptions.

For Brandon, that flexibility aligned with his broader investment strategy.

“It helps to know that I can have it managed either way,” he said. “My focus is on purchasing high yield cashflow properties.”

<img alt="Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c786ba7f-f974-4ce3-9833-1bcd9f2938d6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_ae3c049f388f4c13bf801649d91cbb4a~mv2%20%281%29.jpg?VersionId=J25uvzGdvtFaXGzuwz28ewJ9wWzbtvur" />

He selected a one-bedroom flexi configuration, citing both yield and adaptability.

“I work remotely and can travel to most places and work. I enjoy making spaces that work for the lifestyle that I live and it seems that others also enjoy it.”

Ranging from 54 to 57 square metres, the one-bedroom flexi incorporates a separate multipurpose room suited to a home office, additional storage, or accommodation for ski gear and seasonal equipment, an increasingly relevant inclusion for buyers balancing remote work and alpine travel.

Interiors feature underfloor heating in bathrooms and a heat pump in the main living area, supporting year-round comfort. Upper-level apartments are positioned to maximise natural light, with sliding windows and balustrades in select residences enhancing outlook and ventilation. Units are available in both light and dark interior schemes.

<img alt="Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f9492e9-8ee0-4aae-856c-8996ed9d9a06" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_7d066f5200024c1aa472d01e2dc776ed~mv2.jpg?VersionId=MLR5xn6fLqPdBi7vxyRT.1zhQX3Ln0Ev" />

Sherry, a repeat Safari Group buyer, said her previous experience with the developer provided confidence to secure another apartment.

“Their developments have always finished on time, the quality has been high, and I didn't feel that my investment may be at risk,” she said. “Knowledge of the developer and our two existing Safari apartments gave us the confidence to proceed with this one.”

Safari Group has delivered more than 2,000 hotel units and residential apartments nationally and is now undertaking its fifth Queenstown development, reinforcing buyer confidence in delivery capability.

Although Sherry was not initially targeting Queenstown due to its price profile, prior visits reshaped her view of the market.

“I absolutely love this region and believe it is a major tourist attraction, which led me to the decision to invest.”

<img alt="How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Construction commenced in June 2025, with completion anticipated by mid-2027. Apartments are priced from NZ$639,000, and the development carries Overseas Investment Office exemption approval, allowing non-residents to purchase.

For both investors, the purchase represents a balance of income generation and long-term portfolio positioning in a tightly held alpine market.

“I firmly believe my investments in Safari developments are a combination of all these elements,” Sherry said. “The location of this project enabled me to diversify.”

As Queenstown continues to attract year-round visitation alongside constrained housing supply, Mountain Oak’s dual-key flexibility, optional on-site management structure and established developer track record are resonating with investors seeking exposure to the region’s resilient tourism economy.

Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand

Retirement Living

Lendlease has just released a collection of penthouse residences at their five-star luxury retirement living community, Ardency Kennedy Place.&nbsp;

The release comes in high demand with two penthouses already sold in the release.&nbsp;

Just five penthouses remain, presenting the final chance retirees have to secure a luxury residence within Lendlease’s highly coveted intergenerational living precinct, located on the former site of the Channel Nine studios.

<img alt="Render inside one of the penthouse apartments." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="419047cf-a0e9-4325-ac25-71d96412dd7c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/BM_RenderCamera13%2BInterior%2BLiving.jpg?VersionId=__nItUmwv6SaKISkVHbBIQuHzRTr2rnY" />

“The demand for these penthouses at Ardency Kennedy Place has been strong with two already sold and only five penthouses remaining,” Nathan Cockerill, Managing Director, Retirement Livingat Lendlease,&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

Designed by award-winning architects Bates Smart, the luxury two and three-bedroom penthouses feature high quality fixtures and finishes, with generously proportioned living spaces and natural light maximised throughout.&nbsp;

The penthouses are located on the top floors and boast sweeping views of the city or the Dandenong Ranges, with the largest three-bedroom penthouse benefitting from dual aspect views with an impressive 229 sqm interior floorplan.

Bates Smart, Director, Mark Healey, said the penthouse apartment layouts have been developed around enhancing liveability, specifically in the retirement context.

“A generosity of social spaces such as kitchens and adjoining living spaces encourages gatherings of friends and extended families and whilst ensuring bathrooms and storage is maximised to mimic the family home,” he said.&nbsp;

All of the residences include natural stone finishes, European timber flooring, ample storage, with some also including a built-in fireplace.&nbsp;

“The colour palettes are warm and neutral, with a focus on natural, quality luxury finishes. These penthouse residences present as timeless and classic interiors allowing for individual expression to be overlaid.”

The penthouse residences are priced from $1.55 million to $3.38 million, and the interiors range in size from 104 to 229sqm, each with a spacious terrace and two car spaces.&nbsp;

<img alt="Render inside one of the penthouse apartments." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73d39bff-ce52-4e58-9757-532ee27da163" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/BM_RenderCamera10%2BInterior%2BLiving.jpg?VersionId=ScO0QsMhGSFAN8E.GAkCfWsx288qzC9S" />

Purchasers will have the opportunity to meet with a Bates Smart architect for a personalised walk-through of the design of their residence and will be offered a complimentary design consultation with luxury furniture retailer Coco Republic for ideas on how to furnish and style the home.&nbsp;

Ardency Kennedy Place is Lendlease’s five-star luxury retirement living community that features an onsite café and provedore, as well as a wellness centre that features a pool, gym and yoga studio.&nbsp;

Future residents will also benefit from amenities on their doorstep and proximity to restaurants, cafes and boutiques on Swan Street, and easy connection to the rest of the city.&nbsp;

The precinct is targeting a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, representing a world standard in sustainable design.&nbsp;

Construction of Ardency Kennedy Place has moved into the next stage following structural completion in August and is expected for completion in early 2023.&nbsp;

Ardency Kennedy Place also has a range of other two and three-bedroom apartments available priced from $1 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=109599]

alisonwarters@gmail.com

Lendlease launch luxury penthouse collection in Richmond retirement community, Ardency Kennedy Place

Sydney developer Hyecorp has turned the first sod in their redevelopment of Club Willoughby.

They'll be transforming the transforming underutilised site into a retirement living facility, with the $95 million project 10 years in the making.&nbsp;

Known as the Heart of Willoughby, the redevelopment will see the 52-year old building replaced with a new state-of-the-art Club Willoughby, along with a 126-apartment retirement community and aged care facility, dubbed Hyegrove Willoughby.&nbsp;

A mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments will be on offer, ranging in size from 55 sqm to 176 sqm internally, each with their own balcony or courtyard.&nbsp;

<img alt="Render of the living room in a Hyegrove apartment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e5bddef-1fa9-4045-a88c-ec855db17408" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Hyegrove%20Living%20Room.jpg?VersionId=juXej5ye4yu8E3OBmnQMGlWQp4sWQepc" />

Off the plan purchasers will also have the unique opportunity to custom design their apartment with add-ons such as heated flooring, wallpaper, pendant lights, and smart home automation systems.

In addition, 45 luxury care suites will be set up as three small ‘homes’ with kitchens, dining rooms and lounge areas designed to feel like a family home rather than a traditional aged care facility.&nbsp;

The contemporary mixed-use project in the geographical centre of Willoughby will also feature 2000 sqm of open space including memorial gardens.&nbsp;

While the Club will retain ownership of the land, a long-term lease will be granted to Hyecorp who will operate the over-55s village.

<img alt="Render of the entry to Hyegrove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afaacdf0-3f56-4111-91fd-8125bbd1cdd3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Hyegrove_Entry_4k.jpg?VersionId=Zjb55uxZlXqT3YHrk56t.dA1hhKTbp9L" />

Set over three levels, the new look Club Willoughby will offer a range of dining, function and event experiences under one roof.&nbsp;

Residents of the 126-apartment retirement community will have access to a concierge service, complimentary basic groceries, meal preparation assistance, a laundry service, and an on-site building manager.&nbsp;

A suite of amenities will also be developed for the community, including an indoor swimming pool, beauty salon, cinema, wine-tasting room, gym and pilates studio.&nbsp;

Managing Director of Hyecorp, Stephen Abolakian, said both Hyecorp and the Club shared a common goal for members, future residents and the local community.

<img alt="Render of the lobby lounge at Hyegrove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9cf2d2b3-4715-43b1-8678-9b151e52e011" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Hyegrove_Lobby%20Lounge_4k%5B80%5D.png?VersionId=TTJPcqqOPrfOOgEaCS_slseXZzX6JGUr" />

“Our vision is to create a state-of-the-art showcase for the suburb of Willoughby offering a range of facilities and services for community members of all ages,” he said, adding that the addition of retirement living will cater to residents seeking a hassle-free future.

“As people age and require more services and help, we can provide whatever they need whether it is having the heavy laundry done or meals delivered, that level of care can be dialled up or down. It’s about putting the control into their hands, a characteristic that is too often not available to people living in retirement communities or aged care facilities,” he said.

Club Willoughby President Matt Vertzonis said while the road to discovering The Heart of Willoughby had been long, the result will be a dynamic new premises for members, residents and the greater community.

<img alt="Render of the pool at Hyegrove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="801a56e5-a214-4e75-bb28-35ac8f64a1b8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Hyegrove_Pool_4k%5B40%5D.png?VersionId=TUvB84KzuW95f47acXEhkMKYzXpfoG8v" />

The five-star inclusions at Hyegrove Willoughby are a result of local community consultation, with locals invited to have their say on what services and amenities they wished to see at the site.

Stage one of Hyegrove Willoughby has already sold out, with stage two now selling.&nbsp;

With construction underway, the project is slated for completion by late 2024.&nbsp;

Hyecorp begin redevelopment of Club Willoughby

Woodlea&rsquo;s vision for an innovative community for like-minded retired, semi-retired and working downsizers within the growing master-planned community is now one step closer following the official settlement of the 7.1-hectare&nbsp;site to Lifestyle Communities.

Touted as a mini-city in the suburbs, Woodlea is a fully integrated master-planned community by Victoria Investments and Properties (VIP) and Mirvac that&nbsp;will be home to an industry-leading downsizer precinct to complement Woodlea&rsquo;s range of residential offerings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28733 project_image_fid=167736]

The site is co-located within the Woodlea Town development and will comprise around 180 units as well as a clubhouse, indoor pool, bowling green and a host of other outdoor entertainment facilities.

Woodlea Project Director Matthew Dean said Lifestyle Communities closes the loop on ensuring every age and demographic is catered for within the community.

&ldquo;There are retirement units within the surrounding area but there is nothing of this size or calibre that integrates different living options within the same precinct, catering to working, semi-retired and retired downsizers.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28733 project_image_fid=167735]

&ldquo;Woodlea is unlike any other master-planned community due to its sheer size and diverse offering and as it continues to flourish and more amenities are delivered, we are continually looking for ways to innovate to ensure it is responding to the needs of its residents and the surrounding communities,&quot; Dean said.&nbsp;

&quot;The Lifestyle Communities site will offer a residential offering to cater to downsizers looking to maintain healthy social connections, while also living in a high quality community. It will also assist members of the community to maintain close living connections with older family members, collectively improving their health and wellbeing.&quot;

Lifestyle Communities was chosen as a project partner due to its outstanding track record, as well as its shared vision of creating high-quality projects that improve the wellbeing of residents, Dean said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28733 project_image_fid=167737]

Lifestyle Communities Co-Founder and Managing Director James Kelly&nbsp;said the team are&nbsp;commitment to creating a community that&rsquo;s both sympathetic to the surrounding environs of Woodlea and fit for purpose for local downsizers.

&quot;We&rsquo;re especially keen to ensure we become part of the fabric of the Woodlea success story, with homes and facilities that complement those already in place.&quot;

Construction is scheduled to commence mid-year with staged completions to occur over the next few years.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=28733]

The site is co-located within the Woodlea Town development and will comprise approximately 180 units as well as a clubhouse, indoor pool, bowling green and a host of other outdoor entertainment facilities.



Lifestyle Communities to deliver downsizer precinct in Woodlea masterplan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Australia is ranked in the top third of countries in almost all indices measuring the best countries to retire, according to our analysis of nine separate ageing and retirement indices.
The problem is, experts contriving such indices can’t agree about which ingredients should be included and which are most important.
The flaw of averages
While composite ageing indices provide us with what appear as simple comparisons, the underlying methodologies are complex, prone to judgement, and can be tweaked to obtain certain results.
Using indicators that aggregate outcomes for the older population within a country also ignores differences between people within this population. Sub-indices by gender and more granular age-groups do exist, but one improvement could include an inequality adjustment based on outcomes by socioeconomic status or income.
What about just asking people about their life? Studies that compare differences in people’s own evaluations of life across countries show these are substantially explained by social and economic differences across countries. And when comparing individuals in high-income countries such as Australia and Britain, good physical and mental health appear most correlated with life satisfaction, while in middle-income countries like Indonesia, income is more important.
But that doesn’t differentiate by age. When the OECD asked older people across rich countries what mattered to them, they said that “health” and “environment” were most important while “civic engagement”, “community” and “income” domains were less so. By contrast, younger groups attributed less weight to “environment” and more to “income”.
Such indices usually involve scoring a country in several categories and combining these into a composite score and ranking. Done well, these can reveal how life in one location is better than another and in which categories it is lagging.
So what do existing indices suggest is important for older people’s well-being? And which countries come out on top?
Ingredients for a good old age
The ingredients used in an overall index differ, ranging from the employment rates of older people in each country, to their political participation, income, levels of exercise, and life expectancy.
These indicators and weights are often chosen subjectively by experts constructing each index. Some comparisons focus on current standards of living and comprise social, environmental, health, and economic indicators. These are probably more immediately relevant to people.
By contrast, indices that aim to measure the likely future for older people mostly comprise financial indicators and those that relate to retirement income system design, demography, and economic conditions. These are probably of greater concern for those thinking ahead about the impacts of population ageing.
Where to retire?
Despite the flaws with such comparisons, few people can help themselves. So how does your country rank?
European countries – particularly Nordic ones – are consistently highly ranked across ageing indices (see figure below). Such results reflect their high health outcomes, high incomes, generous social welfare, and comparatively well-designed retirement income systems. These are also countries that top the subjective happiness rankings.
Lower and middle-income countries receive lower rankings from the current well-being indices in which they feature. India and China, where there is low public provision for retirement, occupy high rankings among indices that emphasise fiscal sustainability over the quality of life of older people.
Australia is ranked in the top third of countries in almost all indices. It ranks particularly highly in the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, largely due to the design of its retirement income system.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/91573/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">For what it’s worth, one could take an index of these indices to summarise. Such an index, call it the CEPAR meta-index of ageing, indeed shows Nordic countries taking the top three places, followed by Australia and the US, with the UK coming somewhere in the middle of 25 countries – apparently well ahead of places like France and Italy. Something to ponder when contemplating the good life in old age.
Rafal Chomik, Senior Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), UNSW
David Rodgers, PhD Student in Economics, UNSW
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-is-one-of-the-worlds-best-places-to-retire-or-is-it-91573" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Is Australia really one of the world's best places to retire? 

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Residential aged care facilities should be more like a home and less like a hospital.
Most older people <a href="http://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/dementia_report_2012/en/" target="_blank">want to stay at home</a> as long as they can. When this is no longer possible, they move into residential aged care facilities, which become their home. But Australia’s care facilities for the aged are growing in size and becoming less home-like.
In 2010–11, 54% of residential aged care facilities in major Australian cities had <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/aged-care/residential-aged-care-in-australia-2010-11/contents/table-of-contents" target="_blank">more than 60 places</a>, and the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/aged-care/report/aged-care-overview-booklet.pdf" target="_blank">size of the average facility</a> is growing.
Today, more than 200,000 Australians live or stay in residential aged care on any given day. There are <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Topics/Services-and-places-in-aged-care" target="_blank">around 2,672 such facilities</a> in Australia. This equates to an average of around 75 beds per facility.
Large institutions for people with disability and mental illness, as well as orphaned children, were once commonplace. But now – influenced by the 1960s <a href="https://psychcentral.com/encyclopedia/deinstitutionalization/" target="_blank">deinstitutionalisation</a> movement – these have been closed down and replaced with smaller community-based services. In the case of aged care, Australia has gone the opposite way.
Why is smaller better?
Evidence shows that aged care residents have better well-being when given opportunities for self-determination and independence. Internationally, there has been a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525861016300482" target="_blank">move towards</a> smaller living units where the design encourages this. These facilities feel <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26743545" target="_blank">more like a home</a> than a hospital.
The <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/186463/9789240694811_eng.pdf;jsessionid=731A680E51575BBDBEC07AFC9C449F23?sequence=1" target="_blank">World Health Organisation</a> has indicated that such models of care, where residents are also involved in running the facility, have advantages for older people, families, volunteers and care workers, and improve the quality of care.
In the US, the <a href="https://www.thegreenhouseproject.org/resources/research" target="_blank">Green House Project</a> has built more than 185 homes with around 10-12 residents in each. Studies show Green House residents’ enhanced quality of life doesn’t compromise <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26743545" target="_blank">clinical care</a> or <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21158746" target="_blank">running costs</a>.
Older people have a better quality of life if they can be involved in outdoor activities.
Around 50% of residents living in <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/Resources/Factsheets-and-infographics/Care-needs-factsheet.pdf?ext=" target="_blank">aged care facilities</a> have dementia. And <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1471301214532460" target="_blank">research has shown</a> that a higher quality of life for those with dementia is associated with buildings that help them engage with a variety of activities both inside and outside, are familiar, provide a variety of private and community spaces and the amenities and opportunities to take part in domestic activities.
In June 2018, an <a href="https://theconversation.com/caring-for-elderly-australians-in-a-home-like-setting-can-reduce-hospital-visits-97451" target="_blank">Australian study</a> found residents with dementia in aged-care facilities that provided a home-like model of care had far better quality of life and fewer hospitalisations than those in more standard facilities. The home-like facilities had up to 15 residents.
The study also found the cost of caring for older people in the smaller facilities was no higher, and in some cases lower, than in institutionalised facilities.
There are some moves in Australia towards smaller aged care services. For example, aged care provider <a href="https://www.wintringham.org.au/" target="_blank">Wintringham</a> has developed services with smaller facilities for older people who are homeless. Wintringham received the <a href="https://www.wintringham.org.au/built_environment" target="_blank">Building and Social Housing Foundation World Habitat Award 1997</a> for Wintringham Port Melbourne Hostel. Its innovative design actively worked against the institutional model.
Bigger and less home-like
Historically, nursing homes in Australia were small facilities, with <a href="https://www.anu.edu.au/fellows/jbraithwaite/_documents/Articles/The%20Nursing%20Home%20Industry.pdf" target="_blank">around 30 beds</a> each, often run as family businesses or provided by not-for-profit organisations. Between <a href="https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/other/9768/Aged%20care%20industry%20facts.pdf" target="_blank">2002 and 2013</a> the proportion of facilities with more than 60 beds doubled to 48.6%. <a href="http://www.stewartbrown.com.au/images/documents/StewartBrown---ACFPS-Residential-Care-Report-March-2017.pdf" target="_blank">Financial viability</a> rather than quality of care drove the increase in size.
Today, around 45% of facilities are operated by the private for-profit sector, 40% by religious and charitable organisations, 13% by community-based organisations, 3% by state and territory governments, and less than 1% by local governments.
In 2016, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that residential care services run by government organisations were more likely to be in small facilities. One-fifth (22%) of <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/www_aihwgen/media/2017-Factsheets/Services-and-Places-Factsheet-2016%E2%80%9317_2.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">places in these facilities</a> are in services with 20 or fewer places. Almost half (49%) of privately-run residential places are found in services with more than 100 places.
All of this means that more older Australians are living out their last days in an institutional environment.
Once larger facilities become the norm, it will be difficult to undo. Capital infrastructure is built to have an <a href="https://agedcare.health.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1426/f/documents/09_2016/2016_report_on_the_funding_and_financing_of_the_aged_care_industry_2.pdf" target="_blank">average 40-year life</a>, which will lock in the institutional model of aged care.
The built environment matters. The royal commission provides an opportunity to fundamentally critique the institutional model.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103521/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ralph-hampson-161263" target="_blank">Ralph Hampson</a> is the Senior Lecturer, Health and Ageing, University of Melbourne
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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Australia's residential aged are getting bigger and less home-like: Ralph Hampson

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GUEST OBSERVATION
All humans have fundamental needs. These are physiological (food, drink, clothing, sleep), safety (emotional security, physical safety, health), love and belonging (friendships, community), esteem (respect, dignity) and self-actualisation (accomplishment, personal development).
For people living in Australia’s residential aged-care facilities, these needs are often not met.
Most residents do not feel they are loved or belong in the facility. Like aged-care resident Neda Borenstein, whose secret camera footage broadcast on ABC’s Four Corners showed her singing the Australian national anthem in bed while she waited more than three hours to be changed. “I’m just a number,” Neda told her carer when she finally returned to help her up.
Less than one-third of residents we interviewed said they were friends with another resident. This means most don’t have the social support associated with friendships. Most residents said they felt socially isolated, which is associated with poor well-being.
A 2016 study of residents’ lived experiences in an aged-care facility found many felt they had little dignity, autonomy or control. Outside of meal and structured activity times, people with dementia spend most of their time stationary, alone and doing very little or nothing.
One study looking at interactions between residents and their carers showed residents were alone 40% of the time they were observed. When staff were present, they mostly did not engage verbally, emotionally or physically with the resident.
Aged-care facilities can also feel psychologically unsafe to residents. Residents with dementia may be locked in secure units or physically restrained, using mechanisms such as bedrails or restraining belts.
Residents sometimes don’t get along. They might argue yell, swear, pinch, hit or push each other. We don’t have good data about how often resident-to-resident verbal and physical aggression happens, but it can result in injury and even death.
The consequences of unmet needs?
Residents can react negatively when their needs are not met. They become bored, sad, stressed, cranky, anxious, depressed, agitated, angry and violent.
In people with dementia, we used to call these reactions “behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia” (BPSD). But people with dementia have been pointing out these are normal human responses to neglect, not symptoms of dementia. Almost all (90%) aged-care residents display one or more of these negative reactions.
In many facilities, staff “manage” such reactions with the use of sedating antipsychotic medications. But clinical guidelines recommend looking at the reasons people may be reacting that way and addressing those before medication.
Half of nursing home residents have symptoms of depression, and a third have symptoms of anxiety. More than half of residents have been found in studies to behave in ways that might suggest they no longer wish to live. This includes refusing food or medication, one-third of residents having suicidal thoughts and a small number of nursing home residents actually taking their own lives.
Why does Australian aged care fail to meet fundamental human needs?
We might not be spending enough on aged care to enable providers to meet fundamental human needs. Australia spends about 1% of its GDP on long-term care – less than the OECD average of 1.5%.
Private investment in aged care is growing, as have residential aged care profits, but it’s a difficult industry in which to make money. Insufficient funding translates to insufficient staff and less skilled staff. Our funding system rewards dependency, and there are no funding incentives for providers to improve the psychological well-being of residents, or go beyond that to help them flourish.
People looking for a nursing home don’t have any independently provided information by which to compare quality or performance.
The National Quality Indicator Program – a program for measuring care in residential aged-care facilities that began in 2016 – was meant to provide information for people trying to compare facilities on clinical indicators of care quality.
But participation in the program is voluntary for providers. Neither quality of life nor emotional well-being indicators are included in the suite of quality indicators (even though one has been trialled and found to be suitable). We also don’t know if or when the data might be published.
What is needed?
We need a fundamental shift in community, government, service provider, staff and regulatory expectations of what residential aged care does. Our model of aged care is mainly about clinical care, while neglecting emotional care.
For instance, friendships are a unique social interaction that facilitate healthy ageing, but many residents told us that the social opportunities in their nursing home did not align with their expectations of friendship.
We need our model of care to be a model of a home. In a home everyone contributes, has a say in what happens in the home (such as the menu, interior design, routine and functions), is able to invite their friends to their home for a meal, and can leave during the day and come back at night. A home is a safe place, where people are loved and nurtured, and where they can be active and fulfilled.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103336/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
Lee-Fay Low, Associate Professor in Ageing and Health, University of Sydney
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-our-residential-aged-care-system-doesnt-care-about-older-peoples-emotional-needs-103336" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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How our residential aged-care system doesn’t care about older people’s emotional needs

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Australian Unity will add a new landmark to the Melbourne skyline with The Grace Albert Park Lake.
It is a $120 million, vertical, independent retirement community.
The Grace Albert Park Lake will be marketed as the most prestigious address of its kind in Australia.
"With Melbourne’s ageing population forecasted to almost triple from 2011 to 2051, there is an increasing demographic seeking a future home that offers world-class design and facilities, beautiful residences, and an exceptional level of service,” says Kevin McCoy, Chief Executive Officer for Independent and Assisted Living at Australian Unity.
Located at 128 Albert Road on an 1,100 square metre site overlooking Melbourne’s most famous lake and surrounding parklands, The Grace Albert Park Lake will comprise 79 residences across 18 levels. 
The one, two and three bedroom apartments vary in size from 78 to 301 square metres, and will be priced from $650,000. 
One penthouse (three bedrooms plus study) will be situated on the top level, with two outdoor terraces providing uninterrupted views of Albert Park Lake, the bay and surrounds, priced at $4.5 million.
In its 19th retirement community, Australian Unity has engaged Fender Katsalidis Architects and Mim Design.
David Sutherland, Director at Fender Katsalidis said an architectural element will be the courtyard community clubs running vertically through the building, devised to provide a variety of spaces to stimulate the mind, cultivate physical and mental wellbeing, and share skills and experiences with other residents.
An Artists’ studio will accommodate painting, crafts and other creative pursuits, and a purpose-built Games Room will be devoted to activities that engage and challenge the mind. An Explorers’ Den will feature maps, atlases and travel books to explore or reminisce about experiences from all corners of the globe, and the Edible Garden will be full of fresh herbs, pot plants and greenery for residents to enjoy.
There will be a Piano Lounge and bar, a Theatrette for an intimate cinema experience, a health and fitness centre and an indoor pool. A private dining room seating up to 14 will be located on level 2 to entertain guests, and its 147 square metre rooftop terrace will have barbeque facilities and incredible lake views.
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“We designed the interior spaces to engage with residents and create a sense of pride, nostalgia and calm,” explains Miriam Fanning, Founding Director of Mim Design.
The lobby will have a concierge.
 Each apartment has a dedicated secure car space and storage facility, with the penthouse and three bedroom plus study residences having two car spaces each.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/3/Australian%20Unity%20They%20Grace_Explorers%20Den_Render.jpg" alt="">
Australian Unity has partnered with Marshall White Living to sell The Grace Albert Park Lake,
Construction of The Grace Albert Park Lake has commenced with completion scheduled for late quarter one 2019.
Also owned by Australian Unity, the adjacent building is proposed to provide future residential aged and accommodation services, tailored to the needs of individual residents, as part of Australian Unity’s ongoing commitment to providing access to a spectrum of care services.
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Australian Unity announces $120 million, vertical retirement high-rise overlooking Albert Park Lake

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GUEST OBSERVATION
It is no secret people are living longer, thanks to advances in medical technology. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts we are approaching a point of breaking even – where for every year lived, science can extend lifespans by at least that much. And more than 80% of Kurzweil’s predictions have so far proved correct.
But length of life and quality of life are not the same thing. For good quality of life as one ages, there must be optimal retirement options. The default is to stay in one’s current home for as long as possible, or downsize. Some will settle into the quiet life of a retirement village on the urban fringes.
But a growing number of retirees who are leading a more active retirement, perhaps still working part-time, want to live closer to the bright lights of the city. It is here that the next generation of retirement living is becoming established in cities around Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the US.
Driving the trend are well-heeled baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) who have been using technology at home and work for years. For some, technology has been integral to their lives. And it seems it might be integral to the future of retirement living.
Vertical retirement communities
The chair of the NSW inquiry into retirement villages, Kathryn Greiner, recently recommended integrating designated seniors’ apartments in medium or high-rise residential developments where people of all ages live. Experts have said such retirement communities are the “way of the future”.
But the future is already here, as greater numbers of vertical retirement communities in high-rise apartment buildings are being built in inner-urban areas around Australia. They offer high levels of luxury with ready access to the kinds of amenities inner-city dwellers have grown accustomed to.
High-rise retirement villages would typically be equipped with various smart technologies that connect with the larger technological infrastructure of the city.
Similar to luxury hotel suites, residents would have a spectrum of in-house services and entertainment options presented via internet-connected smart TVs. Multimedia suites would be there for augmented or virtual reality experiences – travel and education being among them. In-house cinemas would host movie nights.
Health care
The way we’re heading, technology-enabled, proactive health management will likely be built into the infrastructure of these retirement villages. It will allow people to stay healthy and live independently at an advanced age, forestalling the time when a move to aged care becomes necessary.
The health-maintenance technology available today means retirees hardly need to leave home for a checkup. Telehealth gives on-demand access to doctors via the internet. Visiting nurses have their role in looking after the elderly at home.
Then there are the dozens of smartphone apps that monitor vital signs, some of which send timely warnings before something becomes a problem.
And while high-rise living may not offer the same access to the outdoors for walking and exercise, technology has other options.
“Exergames” – video games that enable physical activity – are a segment of the computer game industry known to be beneficial to people of all ages, including the elderly. Exergames lend themselves well to vertical communities by not needing much space. They are played either alone or with friends in self-contained virtual environments.
Apart from the physical benefits of exercise, exergames have also been shown to improve mental alertness, balance and coordination, all of which contributes to fewer injuries common to the elderly, such as fractured hips from falling.
Good help is not hard to find now with assistive technologies like Google’s Duplex. These personal assistants fit right into the high-tech home and allow people, wherever they live, to stay independent for longer.
The assistant can keep your diary, make appointments over the phone, buy flowers and have them delivered, turn on the lights, call a taxi and more. Autonomy aids like this could delay the transition to aged care.
A win-win
High-rise apartments are a thorny issue in suburban neighbourhoods, regardless of who is living in them. There are already some objections to high-rise aged-care facilities. But these mainly come from existing low-rise residents who are not happy to have any high-rise buildings in their neighbourhood.
Some are concerned that high-rise communities will lead to social isolation. Traffic congestion is also a concern.
When managed well in an architectural and town planning sense, vertical communities offer high-quality living while occupying a smaller urban footprint than a hundred detached dwellings. They can help reverse the urban sprawl of Australian cities, which are among the largest and least densely settled in the world. We love our big suburban houses, but they do consume vast tracts of countryside.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96916/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">People want to live out their days in the freedom of their own home, not in an institution, no matter how benevolent. And it’s in the national interest to relieve pressure on the public health system. Emerging health-optimising technology and vertical communities can enable this. It’s a win-win.
David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics and Socio-Technical Studies, School of ICT., Griffith University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vertical-retirement-villages-are-on-the-rise-and-theyre-high-tech-too-96916" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Vertical retirement villages are on the rise, and they're high-tech too

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Already flush with scores of intended sizeable aged care and retirement living developments, Brisbane stands to gain another two post their lodgement with council last week.

More impressive of the two from a design aesthetic is ThomsonAdsett's design for 193-195 Lutwyche Road. The Windsor development is being backed by Denmac Nominees Pty Ltd and includes 177 dwellings, split between 98 retirement aged care rooms and 79 independent living units.

Ancillary aspects of the proposal include 179 basement car parks plus 1,351 square metres of space dedicated toward retail, cafe, and health care uses. An entire communal level and rooftop terrace form the amenities aspect of the proposal.

Located opposite Karuna Hospice Services long established Windsor campus, 193-195 Lutwyche Road at 12 levels would comfortably outsize any existing development in the vicinity.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image59_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Greenery forms an integral part of the project. Planning image: ThomsonAdsett"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="230" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image59_5.jpg?itok=-vE1r0nZ" title="Greenery forms an integral part of the project. Planning image: ThomsonAdsett" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Greenery forms an integral part of the project. Planning image: ThomsonAdsett</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, The Ethnic Communities' Council of Qld Ltd is supporting a development application in nearby Indooroopilly. The existing Berlasco Court residential care facility onsite is due for an overhaul by way of a seven level extension designed by Paynter Dixon.

Catering for fully dependent individuals, 142-148 Central Avenue has the ability to significantly increase to the number persons that can be accommodated onsite. This would be a realisation of additional residential aged care bed licences granted to the operator, combined with a Federal Government capital grant to facilitate the redevelopment.

The residential care facility aspect of the proposal sees 115 beds in the mix, with 18 dwellings for supported living also included. 53 car parking spaces and 2,250 square metres of communal space are also present, with the bulk of the communal space at ground level.

On the design, Paynter Dixon states "The intent is that the building embraces its surroundings with a noninstitutional and residential aesthetic to resonate with the local community as well as its occupants and staff.

The material palette takes inspiration from the local vernacular of low set Queenslander style dwellings juxtaposed with multi story residential and commercial developments. A blend of new and old Brisbane."

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image61_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new Berlasco Court. Planning image: Paynter Dixon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image61_3.jpg?itok=b57D09ct" title="A new Berlasco Court. Planning image: Paynter Dixon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new Berlasco Court. Planning image: Paynter Dixon</figcaption></figure>The arrival of the Windsor and Indooroopilly applications is against a backdrop of Brisbane City Council <a href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/community-safety/community-support/seniors/retirement-aged-care">amending its city planning framework</a> in order to offer a more streamlined approach to building, extending or upgrading aged care facilities and retirement facilities.

Council's aim in part is to realise new facilities in diversified locations across Brisbane. Developers for their part have come to the party as evidenced by the strong number of aged care / retirement living proposals appearing across Brisbane.

One of 2018's largest announced projects is Lendlease's partnership with Brisbane Racing Club to create a retirement and aged care precinct within Doomben Racecourse. Lendlease intends to realise 300 independent living units and 108 aged care beds across staged development.

Also on the agenda are sizeable projects in Woolloongabba, Mitchelton, Nundah, Toowong, Newmarket and Carina Heights that are capable of adding thousands of new aged care and retirement living dwellings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image70_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A selection of forthcoming aged care / retirement living developments across Brisbane"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="835" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image70_10.jpg?itok=nw-PNf0q" title="A selection of forthcoming aged care / retirement living developments across Brisbane" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A selection of forthcoming aged care / retirement living developments across Brisbane</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Doubling up for Brisbane's already robust aged care development pipeline

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Australia is about to experience a ‘silver tsunami’ with the population aged over 65 growing at a rate never seen before, says the Property Council.
However, the booming demographic risks fewer and poorer housing options unless our state and territory governments do a better job of planning for housing for older Australians, including retirement villages.
The Retirement Living Planning Report Card, published by Urbis and commissioned by the Property Council of Australia, assesses states and territories on their performance in planning for seniors housing, with South Australia ranked first overall.
The Report Card includes four key recommendations for reform of planning to deliver better outcomes for the housing needs of older Australians:
<ul>
<li>Increase land availability</li>
<li>Support more commercially viable developments</li>
<li>Improve alignment with market needs</li>
<li>Elevate retirement living to state importance in planning schemes.</li>
</ul>
Ben Myers, executive director of retirement living at the Property Council, says with more than 3.7 million Australians aged 65 and over, it’s vital that age appropriate housing options exist in all parts of our major cities to meet increased demand.
“The Retirement Living Planning Report Card shows that our states, together with local governments, can provide a more strategic role in ensuring there is land available for forms of seniors housing, like retirement villages and other independent living communities,” Myers says.
“Issues such as zoning and overly restrictive height controls can inhibit the redevelopment potential of existing communities to ensure the expectations of Australian retirees are met.
“Without changes to planning policy and improved awareness at council level, seniors may find their choices limited, and be more likely to be stuck in homes that reduce their ability to stay independent and healthy.
“Retirees would benefit greatly from specific seniors housing policies and targets, to promote appropriate development, to ensure there are options available for people aged 65 and over.”
Kylie Newcombe, associate director at Urbis and author of the report card, says that when it comes to scoring planning systems, the scores are low overall with no single state standing out as an exemplar.
“We need to switch the mindset from planning as a barrier, to planning as an enabler," she says.
“Common hurdles to developing seniors housing are the ongoing competition for land, historic zoning and height restrictions, and a general lack of understanding of the market’s needs by authorities.
“Ideally, there would be a more flexible approach that is tailored to what seniors need and want,” Newcombe says.
 
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