New development announced in Perth's eastern suburbs

Perth’s eastern suburbs will have access to significant new aged care services by early 2020 with the development of Hall & Prior's Karingal Green Residential Aged Care Facility.

On January 23, Hall & Prior’s Chief Executive Officer Graeme Prior announced the organisation is set to proceed with the proposed aged care facility in High Wycombe.

Karingal Green will provide much-needed residential aged care, community and home care services to people of the Shire of Kalamunda, as well as the broader communities of eastern Perth and Perth Hills.

The new residential aged care facility, located on Hawkevale Road, will have 160 residential aged care beds at the site and be able to look after the long-term needs of more than 150 home care clients living in the community.

The residential care services will cater for both high-dependency residents, as well as lower care alternatives. Specialist dementia care programs will be run from a dedicated part of the facility.

In addition, Karingal Green will include a residential wing of eight beds specifically for the care and lifestyle needs of younger residents, aged 60 or less, who require 24/7 care support, but currently have very limited options or ability to access these services in the Perth eastern metropolitan region.

The facility will eventually host a wide range of health and lifestyle programs, including hydrotherapy pool, day respite, allied health and rehab services and a primary health care centre.

A significant investment will also be made in an on-site education hub for staff development. This will help ensure the highest ongoing quality of aged care personnel and services are made available to the facility and local community.

Construction of Karingal Green is expected to commence in the second half of 2017 and be complete by the end of 2019. The activities during the first half of 2017 will include finalising design and plans and tendering the project to enable the appointment of a builder in the second half of 2017.

Mr Prior said Karingal Green would be a landmark aged care development for the region and give people access to high quality aged care services equal to other parts of Perth.

“The Perth eastern metropolitan region desperately needs new, quality aged care services to meet the growing demand from a rapidly ageing population. The development of Karingal Green will be a very big step towards enabling many more local residents to age in or near the community where they have lived, and to remain close to their family and friends,” he said.

In addition to providing long-term aged care services for the region, Karingal Green will create a significant number of long-term jobs. An estimated 250 new local jobs will be created across the residential and home care services to be operated by Hall & Prior.

Karingal Green Residential Aged Care Facility was designed by leading international architects Hassell Studio to provide world’s best practice care programs and promote a philosophy of health, wellness and dignity.

The facility will be a generous and contemporary two-storey design, which encourages ease of movement and ready-access to services, while respecting and maximising residents’ privacy, independence and choice.

The building will be set within landscaped grounds fronting the Gladys Newton Reserve. Additional areas of the site will be available for future development of further aged services, such as assisted and independent living to meet the changing needs of the community.

Hall & Prior has secured a $12.0 million zero real interest loan from the Commonwealth Government, $37.0 million in senior debt from National Australia Bank and $8.7 million finance from a local third party investor to complete the project.