New apartments that will allow older residents to age in place in their own home are under construction in a $19 million project that is the first of its kind for public housing in South Australia.
Under the State Government project, 59 apartments will be constructed in three apartment buildings located in South Plympton, Prospect and Blair Athol. The properties will include thoughtful design features tailored for older tenants, allowing them to better manage mobility limitations, while remain connected to their community.
Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the SA Housing Authority was building the apartments to better meet the needs of older public housing tenants.
“More than half of Housing SA tenants are aged 55 years or older, so it is critically important that, as we approach the renewal of public housing properties, we cater for our tenants in the design process,” said Minister Lensink.
“All 59 apartments have a wide range of age specific design elements, such as step-less entry, provision for hand rails in bathrooms and larger spaces to allow the manoeuvring of mobility devices. The developments will also include lifts and spaces to charge mobility devices.
“We have also designed the properties to have communal areas for more community interaction and room for family visits, reducing the social isolation that some older people can experience if they live on their own.
“In particular, the site in South Plympton will be located next to 1,000 square metres of public green space for people to enjoy the outdoors. This development will replace old and very dated flats that were certainly not suitable for older tenants, with new modern dwellings, specifically designed for senior public housing tenants.
“The site at Blair Athol features raised planter boxes to make it easier for people with mobility issues to participate in gardening, a great hobby to improve health and wellbeing and for socialising with neighbours.
“The Prospect site on Churchill Rd also encourages socialisation, with a communal garden and for added convenience, a communal space on the ground floor to charge mobility devices.”
Details of the three sites are as follows:
134 A Pleasant Ave, Plympton South – $9.6 million
This three-storey, 29-apartment building will incorporate the following features:
• close to public transport and other services
• dwellings designed to maximise natural light, ventilation and views • areas on each floor for tenant interaction and family visits
• design allows for improved visibility increasing security
• built to Universal Design Standards
• two lifts
• air conditioning in living areas to all dwellings
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bathrooms
• opportunity to provide targeted services to older tenants including an office/meeting room at ground floor
• onsite parking
• construction to begin later this year, to be completed in early 2020.
Prospect: 216-224 Churchill Rd – $6.8 million
This four-storey, 20-apartments building will include:
• ground floor area for charging mobility scooters
• lift
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bathrooms
• communal areas on second floor and in garden to reduce social isolation
• onsite parking
• construction underway, to be completed by mid-2019.
Blair Athol: 407 Prospect Rd – $3.1 million
This three-storey, 10-apartment building includes:
• onsite parking
• lift
• Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant bathrooms
• garden communal areas
• bike storage
• communal garden (plantar boxes)
