Rosewood spends $105m on upgrades

Aged care provider Rosewood is responding to increasing demand for its services by booking $105 million in developments for its West Perth and Leederville facilities.

In West Perth, Rosewood recently lodged a development application for a $65 million redevelopment at its Cleaver Street property, which would expand the facility from 52 aged care beds to 152.

Rosewood has been providing aged care services at Cleaver Street since 1957.

The redevelopment comprises a six-storey residential care facility, with the heritage-listed Florence Hummerston Lodge to receive a $500,000 restoration to become the centrepiece of the development.

Support services, including a medical practice, pharmacy and a 60-seat cafe make up the remainder of the plan.

Construction is under way in Leederville on a $40 million revamp of Rosewood’s Brittania Road facility, with an additional 120 beds expected to be open by August

Rosewood chief executive Mario Zulberti said research showed the state needed more than 3,000 aged care beds to be developed to keep pace with demand, with the number of senior citizens in the City of Vincent, for example, expected to increase by 60 per cent over the next 10 years.

“Rosewood’s Cleaver Street redevelopment proposal is our response to this massive community issue, and a direct attempt to help house more of our ageing population in quality accommodation,” Mr Zulberti told Business News.

Meanwhile, Curtin Care has also advanced redevelopment plans, after renewing a long-term lease at its Wearne Cottesloe aged care facility.

Four local councils jointly own the site – Claremont, Cottesloe, Mosman Park and Peppermint Grove – while Curtin Care is planning to provide aged care facilities, serviced apartments and independent living options for seniors.

Curtin Care has appointed architects Grounds Kent and SPH architecture + interiors, planning firm Taylor Burrell Barnett, project management group Total Project management and public relations firm Clarity Communications to form an initial redevelopment team.

The redevelopment plans come at a time when retirement living is emerging as a key lobbying point for the Property Council of Australia, heading into the March state election.

Property Council WA executive director Lino Iacomella urged the next state government to impose senior housing targets on local governments.

“What we are seeing is seniors being given a lack of choice of where they can retire and being forced to move into unfamiliar areas where they are not socially connected,” Mr Iacomella said.

“Land-use policy is the single most important lever that government has to provide rapid support for the development or redevelopment of retirement villages so that older Western Australians are able to live happy and independent lives where they want to live.”