Developer Third.i has topped out its luxury Potts Point apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/muse-potts-point-30-34-brougham-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Muse</a>.

Under construction by Dilcara and expected to complete in mid-2026, Muse comprises just 13 apartments designed by acclaimed architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/wmk-architecture">WMK Architecture</a> and Mathieson. The building’s design celebrates Potts Point’s heritage character while introducing refined modern elements like advanced building technology and private balconies and terraces that offer views of the Sydney city skyline.

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Luke Berry, Director &amp; Co-Founder at Thirdi Group, said Muse is a celebration of Potts Point’s unique character and charm.

"With only 13 residences, we’ve created something truly special for those who appreciate exclusivity and design excellence," Berry says"

"The views, the location, and the lifestyle make Muse a rare opportunity in Sydney’s property market. We’re thrilled to see the project take shape and look forward to welcoming our residents in mid-2026.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112613 project_image_fid=231686]

Only a limited number of residences remain at Muse.

Third.i recently launched The Rushcutters nearby, also just 13 large-scale apartments. The two-bedroom apartments were all snapped up in double-quick time. The three-bedroom apartments are priced from just under $5 million.

Potts Point has always been popular for apartment living, but given the lack of suitable development sites in the affluent suburb, new apartment developments have been few and far between.

Early next year Ceerose will launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/belgravia-potts-point-117-victoria-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Belgravia</a>, a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments on Victoria Street.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112613]

Staff Writer

Third.i tops out Muse, Potts Point apartments

Buyer interest in Capital Corporation’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> has been gaining momentum following the recent groundbreaking and the commencement of construction.

Enquiry data has pointed to a clear theme: larger apartments are leading demand, particularly among downsizers who want to remain on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

Since June, three-bedroom layouts have attracted the highest level of enquiry. The three-bed, two-bath, two-car apartments priced from $1.69 million generated the most enquiries, the highest of any floorplan, followed by the larger three-bed garden residences which are priced at $2.25 million.

It's been a prevailing theme for Capital Corporation, who, in the early stages of marketing, reacted to buyer feedback to create more three-bedroom apartments.

The numbers echo what <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a> has observed since the project’s early stages. Buyers want generous internal space, established amenity and the ability to age in place without leaving the area.&nbsp;

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Capital Corporation Managing Director Jim Hunter said this was a major factor in the estate’s momentum, noting that “the combination of premium design, convenience and direct access to Sydney’s leading private hospital has proven to be a major drawcard”.

That connection to health and wellbeing has proven especially influential for older owner-occupiers. Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that one in three Australians downsizing do so for health-related reasons, with a third specifically seeking proximity to medical facilities.&nbsp;

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The buyer profile emerging at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a> Estate reflects this shift. Local residents Peter and Corinne Collins, both in their mid-70s, are among those who chose to downsize within the suburb after decades in their family home. They secured a top-floor three-bedroom apartment after queuing on launch day in March, citing the bushland setting, walkability, and peace of mind of being close to medical services as key reasons for their purchase.

“Being able to walk everywhere, including to the hospital if we need to, really gave us peace of mind,” Corinne told Apartments.com.au.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/from-family-home-to-bushland-retreat-why-peter-and-corinne-chose-the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate">From family home to bushland retreat: Why Peter and Corinne chose The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a>

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Architecture firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">Group GSA</a>&nbsp;are behind the design at The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. There are 128 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, complete with interiors&nbsp;by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>. Floor-to-ceiling glass maximises views of the bushland ridgeline, while on-site amenity includes a residents’ lounge, pet-friendly Green Spine, BBQ pavilion and direct access to Coups Creek bushland and walking tracks.

Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;appointed earlier this year to deliver The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. They are expected to complete the building in late 2027, with residents to move in shortly after.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Joel Robinson

Downsizer demand continues to shape The Residences at Wahroonga Estate

With Brisbane’s housing market soaring and home ownership becoming increasingly out of reach for many buyers, townhouses have emerged as the new urban dream, offering private, low-maintenance retreats complete with pools, parklands, and lifestyle amenities.

As Brisbane faces a growing shortage of quality new residential offerings, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/honeycombes-property-group">Honeycombes Property Group</a> has released to the market Songbird Terraces, a boutique development of just 34 terrace homes in the heart of the leafy residential enclave of Oxley.

Offering a more affordable option to the white picket fence house, buyers can purchase a brand new architecturally designed three bedroom terrace home overlooking park and bushland with a communal heated pool, BBQ terrace, private parklands and an on-site café, while being just minutes from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/oxley-qld-4075">Oxley</a>’s village centre, train station, and a range of schools and amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5241]

Each of the spacious three bedroom plus multi purpose room or four bedroom townhomes feature premium finishes, landscaped courtyards, designer kitchens, two-car accommodation, and optional upgrades for tailored living.

Honeycombes Property Group Managing Director Peter Honeycombe said with completion anticipated in early 2027, this was an incredibly rare chance to buy a fixed-price, brand-new, off the plan home in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held and liveable suburbs, without the stress of auctions and chaotic open homes.

“With prices starting from $1.195 million, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/songbird-terraces-oxley-10-honeyeater-circuit-oxley-qld-4075">Songbird Terraces</a> are designed for owner occupiers seeking space, style and lifestyle, without the maintenance,” Honeycombe said.

“Surrounded by natural bushland and close to manicured parks, walking trails, boutique shops, cafes, cinemas and golf courses, Oxley continues to stand out as one of Brisbane’s most liveable suburbs.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=355541]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director Andrew Scriven said with a limited number of homes available, Songbird Terraces was attracting strong interest from families, upsizers, first home buyers and downsizers looking for quality, location and long-term value.&nbsp;

“Demand is high, supply is low, and the market is crying out for high-quality homes in established well connected areas like Oxley,” Scriven said.

“What was once seen as a compromise between a house and an apartment a townhouse has now become a lifestyle choice, more and more homebuyers are shifting their focus from traditional detached houses to modern, low-maintenance townhouses that offer greater value and convenience.

“As the city’s population grows and urban sprawl becomes less sustainable, Brisbane’s townhouse market is set to expand even further.&nbsp;

“There’s definitely a panic from buyers who’ve been pushed out of the house market but still want to stay in well-connected suburbs with great schools and amenities, they are worried they will miss out as property prices continually rise.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5238]

After eight years of calling Australia home, Agnes Skoraczewska and Matt Biskupski decided it was finally time to take the next step and purchase a home of their own. With property prices continuing to climb, the couple didn’t want to wait any longer and secured a three-bedroom plus multi purpose room townhouse at Songbird Terraces, locking in a fixed price ahead of their move in 2027.

“The truth is, we didn’t want to wait any longer,” Biskupski said. “Seeing what was happening in the market, we realised now was the right time to buy. It gives us peace of mind knowing we no longer have to worry about renting.”

When they discovered Songbird Terraces, the decision came easily.

“The area is lovely and quiet, yet still so close to the city, it’s the perfect balance for work and life,” Skoraczewska said. “It’s a place where we can recharge our batteries while staying connected to everything we need.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5237]

For Agnes and Matt, buying off the plan offered the ideal solution, the confidence of securing their dream home at today’s prices, and the excitement of planning for the future in a community that perfectly fits their lifestyle.

As the final residential precinct within the Songbird Oxley master plan, Songbird Terraces will continue to breathe new life into the area and help create a suburb destination rich in lifestyle amenity.

Colliers Residential Director Lily O'Connell said Songbird is positioned to take full advantage of elevated north and east-facing parkland views, the homes feature low-maintenance design and high energy efficiency to reduce ongoing costs while enhancing everyday comfort.

“And with an array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles this is an offering for all,” O'Connell said.

“This is the final release in a masterplanned community that’s become one of Oxley’s most desirable addresses, offering a last chance to enter this community where opportunities are few and far between.”

The homes will be delivered by Clearcon Builders, specialists in premium townhome construction. They will commence construction before Christmas, and is aiming to complete the development in early 2027.

<h2>Songbird Terraces Snapshot</h2>

<ul>
	<li>34 architecturally designed 3 bedroom + multi-purpose room terrace homes.</li>
	<li>An array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles.</li>
	<li>Perfectly positioned to take advantage of north and east views over park and bushland.</li>
	<li>A multi-purpose room, which can serve as a second living area, teen retreat, study or fourth bedroom.</li>
	<li>Designer kitchens featuring high quality engineered stone benchtops and European appliances.</li>
	<li>Spacious outdoor living areas and landscaped courtyards perfect for alfresco dining.</li>
	<li>Generous internal and external spaces, designed to take advantage of views overlooking park and bushland.</li>
	<li>Low maintenance, energy efficient &amp; two car accommodation.</li>
	<li>Access to a heated resort-style pool, outdoor entertaining terrace and beautifully landscaped gardens and park.</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149443]

Songbird Terraces offer 34 architect-designed townhomes in private enclave, surrounded by bushland, parks and resort style amenity

Townhouse living, Brisbane’s new affordable urban dream?

Kirra Beach has been hot property since the onset of the pandemic in early 2021.

Development sites were snapped up, projects sold out, and many of those developments are now beginning to be handed over to purchasers.

The latest entrant to Kirra, timing its arrival perfectly with little to no new off the plan apartment stock currently on the market in the area, is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pyco-group">Pyco Group</a>, which is expanding its South East Queensland footprint through projects such as Atelier in West End and Nouveau in Albion, both currently under construction and scheduled for completion next year.

They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/onde-kirra-10-churchill-street-kirra-beach-qld-4225">Ondé Kirra</a>, quietly set on Miles Street just a stone’s throw from the sand and the world-renowned surf break at Rainbow Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337600]

The current release focuses on a wide variety of three-bedroom configurations, from layouts starting at $1.89 million and offering nearly 130 sqm of space, to larger three-bed options approaching 160 sqm and oriented north-east to capture views over the ocean and the length of the Gold Coast skyline.

Each apartment follows a layout that prioritises light, airflow, and connection to the outdoors. Interiors are shaped by a warm, coastal-inspired palette that balances soft neutral tones with natural timbers. Kitchens feature premium finishes and flow directly into dining and living zones, framed by full-height glazing. Many apartments offer wraparound views and corner orientations to maximise natural light from multiple angles.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337613]

There are just 90 apartments in the 14-storey building designed by DAH Architecture.

Beyond the apartments, Ondé’s offering is rounded out by a series of resident-only amenities designed for comfort and practicality. These include a fitness studio, outdoor pool, co-working pods, and lush communal spaces on the ground floor.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337597]

Rawcorp kicked off construction on site just over three months ago, demolishing the two houses and two original walk-up unit blocks.

The award-winning construction firm is expecting to complete Ondé&nbsp;in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143621]

Ondé Kirra times entry to booming southern Gold Coast market as apartment options shrink

The Wentworth Park Sporting Complex and its immediate surrounds will make way for new housing and sporting facilities, the latest rezoning play by the Minns Labor Government to meet Sydney's housing supply crisis.

The 3.3-hectare Wentworth Park Sporting Complex will be&nbsp;converted into community sporting fields and public green space, allowing for the rezoning of the surrounding area to support up to 2,500 additional well-located homes.

These are in addition to the 4,800 homes already planned or approved nearby, including around 2,000 homes on the old Sydney Fish Market and neighbouring sites, bringing the precinct total to as many as 7,300 new homes.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/mirvac-to-develop-over-1-400-new-homes-on-former-sydney-fish-market-site">Mirvac to develop over 1,400 new homes on former Sydney Fish Market site</a>

In addition to the new housing and sporting facilities, the Wentworth Park precinct will be immediately adjacent to transport links including a new ferry stop at Sydney Fish Markets, an upgraded light rail station at Wentworth Park, a continuous 15-kilometre coastal boardwalk from the Blackwattle Bay to Woolloomooloo, and the Pyrmont Metro station, which is set to open in 2032.

When the current greyhound lease expires in September 2027, the existing facilities will be demolished and the land transferred to the City of Sydney to be converted into community sports fields. Current estimates suggest around 20 additional sport fields are required in the city area by 2031 in order to meet the needs of the sporting community.

The new 14-hectare park will also be made available for hosting festivals and community events as a condition of the transfer to ensure the new harbourside parklands can be utilised by the whole community.

“We recognise Wentworth Park holds deep history and meaning for many people, and we know some will be disappointed by this change," NSW Premier Chris Minns said, adding however that "cities change, and we&nbsp;have a responsibility to plan for the future.

“Right in the middle of Sydney and connected by rail, light rail, ferries and the future Metro, our plan for the future of Wentworth Park will deliver much-needed new housing while also providing up to 20 new community sporting fields.

“This is more homes, more playing fields and better public spaces, alongside the infrastructure that makes neighbourhoods work. This is homes and community facilities delivered together, not one without the other.”

“This is how we build a fairer and more balanced Sydney. By creating new housing in well-serviced areas, instead of pushing growth to places without the transport and infrastructure to support it.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said&nbsp;Wentworth Park has a long and proud history.

"Today we’re securing its future for the next generation," Scully said.

"This plan keeps land in the public hands and delivers new homes, new sporting facilities and new open space for a community that is growing fast. Our city is changing, and we have a responsibility to make sure people can live near the jobs, education and transport they rely on. We’ll continue working closely with the City of Sydney to deliver this rezoning in a timely way, and we’re ready to step in with a State-led rezoning if it’s needed."

Minns Gov to demolish Wentworth Park Sporting Complex to make way for 2,500 new homes and sporting facilities

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

<html><body>
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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New apartments

New townhouses

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The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.