They have done this by cutting developer charges, processing applications faster and allowing developers to re-use land and integrate facilities such as retail and childcare – and they’re working.
Since the new Brisbane City Council came into power in September last year, 2,016 new aged care beds and units have been approved across 19 aged care and retirement village developments in the city.
Another 1,547 beds and units in 10 developments are waiting for approval.
Compare this to the previous six years when less than 1,000 rooms and units were approved a year.
The news comes at the same time as aged care construction hit a $340 million peak across Australia in March, according to CoreLogic.
It sounds impressive – but will it be enough?
Boosting bed numbers
In just 10 years, over-65s will make up more than 20 per cent of Australia’s population. Many existing aged care facilities will also need to be knocked down and rebuilt during the same time.
Having accommodation where we can age in place close to family and friends will be key to helping us live longer – and healthier – lives.
It’s only with these new incentives that Brisbane is now on track to meet its estimated need of 3,600 new aged care beds a year.
Their developments aren’t in fringe suburbs either – TriCare is planning 376 beds and units in Taringa, 5km southwest of the CBD, while Arcare bought the former Springwood Bowls Club, 6km from the city, last year – so local residents can stay in their communities.
With the Aged Care Financing Authority predicting that around 76,000 new aged care beds will be needed in the next ten years – over double the 35,000 created in the last decade – we can’t wait for the beds to build themselves.
