The Andrews Labor Government and Southern Cross Care have signed off on a deal to build a new state-of-the-art aged-care facility in North Williamstown.
Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley today announced that the local not-for-profit aged care provider would build a new facility on a vacant block in Power Street next to the North Williamstown railway station.
As part of Labor’s Aged Care Land Bank Initiative, this prime land was reserved for a new 90-place aged care facility to meet the future demands of a greying population in Williamstown.
Soaring property prices have become a significant barrier to the development of not-for-profit aged-care facilities close to the city. New residential aged care facilities were mainly being built in Melbourne’s outer-suburbs, meaning older Williamstown residents would need to move further away from home.
Since 2006, the land bank initiative has secured strategic sites around Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs.
Thanks to this forward thinking, Williamstown residents will have new high-quality residential aged care places that keep them in their local community.
The 4500 square metre North Williamstown site is ideally located close to public transport, amenities and thriving shops, making it easy to reach for staff, families and visitors.
The new facility will renew the provision of residential aged care in central Williamstown, including 40 aged-care places transferred from Western Health’s former Hazeldean aged care facility.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Martin Foley
“The Andrews Labor Government is planning ahead for our rapidly ageing population. Senior Victorians who have contributed so much to the state should be able to live as fulfilling a life as possible as they grow older, and being able to continue live in their local area is a big part of that.”
“Labor’s land bank is designed to address the way skyrocketing property prices create a major obstacle for the development of new aged care facilities in inner suburbs such as Williamstown.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Williamstown, Wade Noonan
“Elderly residents shouldn’t have to move out of a community they know and love to access high quality residential aged care.”
“Southern Cross Care will deliver a modern new facility that will ensure elderly people can access care in their community for many years to come.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020