Works starts on $90m aged care precinct

Broad Construction has begun building works at Hall & Prior’s $90 million planned community Karingal Green, a new aged care precinct set to provide 160 beds, health and wellness hubs, as well as research and training facilities.

Hall & Prior is the state’s fifth largest aged care provider, as ranked by number of beds, on the BNiQ Search Engine and currently has 14 facilities across the state and an additional 10 in NSW.

Designed by HASSELL studio, Karingal Green will provide 160 beds under a range of residential options, specialist services, including young disabled and dementia care, as well as in-home community aged care support on Hawkevale Road in High Wycombe.

Spread across 1.6 hectares, the precinct has been supported by a federal government contribution of $12 million in capital funding, $41 million from the National Australia Bank, and subordinated finance from The Fire & Emergency Services Superannuation Fund.  

During its construction phase, Karingal Green is anticipated to create 200 jobs, generating an additional 250 new jobs across the delivery of its residential and home care offerings.

Hall & Prior chief executive Graeme Prior said the project had been planned for more than a decade.

“This is a flagship development for Hall & Prior and has involved significant research, development and investment to plan and build,” he said.

“On completion, the 1.6ha planned community will include 160 aged care beds, world-class health and wellness facilities, health and lifestyle programs, rehabilitation services, research and training facilities and day respite services.

“It will feature a wellness centre, cinema, private dining, primary and allied health clinic, cafe, gymnasium, hydro-pool and onsite staff development and training facilities to ensure the highest quality of care services are available to residents and the local community.”

Mr Prior said Karingal Green was a response to the growing demand for aged care services in Western Australia, and that it would set new standards for the provision of contemporary aged care.

“As people age and have greater care needs, they not only want access to world-class care, health services and facilities – they also want to remain connected to their community,” he said.

“And experience tells us, that in-care health outcomes are better when spouses stay together and people retain their daily relationship with both family and community.”

Mr Prior said the provider’s focus was on evolving its services and facilities to align with the senior community’s needs and wants.

“Karingal Green does just that. It is forward thinking and challenges perceptions of aged care,” he said.

“It responds to the demands of an ageing population by giving them the choice of care to suit their individual lifestyles and needs.

“This is a wellness precinct that will develop and evolve with the residents and community it serves. Its design and functionality has been thoughtfully considered – not just for the now, but also with the realisation it will continue to service WA for the next 50 years.”

Hall & Prior said Karingal Green’s care approach and services would be industry-leading, catering to both high dependency and low-care needs on site to allow residents to age in place and enable couples to remain together.

Specialised care services will include a dedicated dementia care wing as well as young disabled care facilities that will cater for 24-7 care needs.

Mr Prior said numerous design and building features were incorporated specifically to ensure the precinct integrated with its natural surroundings and community, with specific design features including enhancing natural light and using elements to achieve a feeling of homeliness.

Hall & Prior anticipate completion of Karingal Green in December 2019.