$180 million wellbeing precinct for Carlton
A new wellbeing precinct being built in Carlton will provide high quality accommodation and support for local older people, Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell announced today.
Ms Lovell was joined by Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis and Member for Northern Metropolitan Region and Chair of the Carlton Community Liaison Committee Craig Ondarchie, to mark the start of construction of the Carlton Wellbeing Precinct in Rathdowne Street.
The Carlton Wellbeing Precinct, funded, owned and operated by Australian Unity, is expected to cost approximately $180 million.
Australian Unity is part of the Living Carlton Consortium, selected by the Victorian Government to deliver the Carlton Housing Redevelopment project.
"Before the redevelopment started, a report commissioned by the Department of Human Services and Melbourne City Council identified community health and aged care services facilities as priorities for Carlton over the next 10 years," Ms Lovell said.
"To respond to the needs of older residents, the Australian Unity Carlton Wellbeing Precinct will feature an Aged Care and Wellbeing Centre and two retirement living buildings, set around a central park," Ms Lovell said.
"It's great news for the local community that the Aged Care and Wellbeing Centre is due to be completed by the end of next year," Mr Davis said.
"It will include 161 high and low-care beds, respite services as well as medical suites, a seniors' gymnasium, a hydrotherapy pool, a café and a community meeting room."
The two other buildings, due for completion in 2017, will include 181 independent-living units and facilities for older people.
The Wellbeing Precinct is part of the Victorian Government's Carlton Housing Redevelopment project which aims to provide more and better quality public and private housing.
Ms Lovell said the Victorian Government was working with Australian Unity to boost the number of local public housing tenants that could be employed during the construction of the Carlton Wellbeing Precinct and beyond.
"Construction of the Precinct is expected to result in 200 construction jobs and, when it opens its doors, the Aged Care and Wellbeing Centre is expected to generate around 150 new jobs in aged care, hospitality and cleaning services," Ms Lovell said.
