New Senior Accommodation Opened at Bencubbin

23/4/02
Housing and Works Minister Tom Stephens said that the opening of a new seniors' development at Bencubbin celebrated the strong community spirit engendered by joint ventures.
Mr Stephens said the Joint Venture Housing Program development by the Shire of Mount Marshall and the Department of Housing and Works (DHW) demonstrated the advantages of local government partnerships.
The four two-bedroom units in Brown Street, Bencubbin were opened jointly by the Mount Marshall Shire President, Mr Ian Lansmeer and DHW's General Manager Housing and Facilities Management, Mr Bob Thomas.
"These units have been long awaited, and will no doubt become a vital addition to the town for the elderly who wish to spend their retired years at home in Bencubbin," the Minister said.
"It is also very pleasing to see that it is a venture marked with a true community spirit.
"I congratulate the local Country Women's Association which has been very proactive in assisting with the development by initiating proceedings to vest their former CWA rest room land over to the shire."
Mr Stephens said the four two-bedroom units were built by Scaffidi Developments Pty Ltd for a tender price of $438,800.
He said the Shire of Mount Marshall contributed land and associated land costs, as well as making cash contribution of $50,000, plus $3,732 for additional built-in robes and $3,000 for landscaping.
It was pleasing that the department continued its high standard of building and design to ensure the safety and comfort of senior tenants.
Purpose-built accommodation for seniors better met their lifecycle changes with smaller grounds, the absence of steps, and mobility features such as wheelchair access and hand rails.
The Minister said the Joint Venture Housing Program was targeted towards organisations that had resources to contribute to the development of rental accommodation options for people on low incomes.
"In a typical arrangement, the organisation provides the land, and the Department of Housing and Works contributes to the construction of the properties," he said.
Mr Stephens said both parties then had an equity stake in the asset, because they had each made a substantial capital contribution.
Other features of the program included:

• a joint tenancy allocations process;
• the partner organisation retaining all rental revenues with full responsibility for tenancy and property management; and
• a standard term agreement of 25 years.