AN application for a five-level aged care facility, together with offices and shops, for Cleveland’s CBD has been submitted to council.
Redland Investment Corporation chief executive Peter Kelley said the proposed development on Doig Street would meet local needs and provide employment for about 110 aged care professionals and 50 retail staff.
“Redland City has the fastest ageing community in south-east Queensland with census data predicting there to be 52,748 people aged 65 and above in the city by 2031, so this proposed facility will provide a necessary need locally,” Mr Kelley said.
“The site will continue to be used as a car park for at least another 12 to 18 months, while the new owners finalise their development plans and await necessary approvals to allow progression of the proposed development.”
Council transferred the land to RIC in 2015 to help revitalise Cleveland’s CBD. RIC facilitated the sale of the 6724 square metre block.
An RIC spokesperson said the contract of sale was conditional and settlement was expected to occur in August next year, after which the purchase price would be made public.
Aged care provider Vacenti was awarded bed licences for the proposed development in the last Aged Care Approvals Round by the Commonwealth government’s Health Department in May last year.
Plans for the aged care suites include hotel model service delivery, 24-hour qualified nursing care and on-site health and wellbeing services. There will be 186 basement and ground-level car parks.
Federal MP Andrew Laming welcomed the development saying it would spark a revitalisation of the Cleveland CBD, boosting local business.
“Frankly, I’ve had a gutful of ‘for lease’ signs,” he said.
“I’m sick of the pessimism – we need to be positive about our beautiful village.
“That’s why I’m right behind this project.”
Mr Laming said the facility would transform the local economy.
“We’ll see many families coming into the centre of Cleveland to visit and spend time with their elderly relatives – resulting in a strong ripple effect for businesses,” he said.
“We want to see the elderly members of our community get the best possible care and we want to see our local businesses thrive and get ahead.”
The RIC spokesperson said the Redlands Planning Scheme did not require a public notification period for the development application.
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