- Premier turns sod on new $90 million aged care precinct in High Wycombe
- Once complete, the precinct will house 160 new aged care beds and deliver up to 250 new jobs in residential and home care
- 200 jobs are also estimated to be created through the construction phase of the project
- Karingal Green aged care precinct is scheduled for completion in December 2019
Premier Mark McGowan today joined representatives from the Commonwealth Government and Hall & Prior health and aged care group to turn the sod on a new $90 million aged care facility in High Wycombe.
Expected for completion in 2019, the facility will include 160 new aged care beds and is estimated to create up to 250 new local jobs in the residential and home care industry.
Karingal Green in High Wycombe will provide a world-class aged care precinct with a health and wellness facility, health and lifestyle programs, rehabilitation services, research and training facilities, and day respite services as well as home care services.
The precinct will include a dedicated dementia care wing as well as young disabled care facilities which will cater for the high level 24/7 care needs of younger residents, while also providing aged and lifestyle appropriate services and facilities.
The facility has been realised with the support of the Commonwealth Government, the National Bank, and the Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund.
An aged care working group, formed by Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes and representatives from key State Government departments, is implementing the McGowan Government's election commitment to fast-track the availability of State-owned land and property for the development and construction of new aged care facilities.
Since the group's establishment, more than 30 aged care development opportunities have been assisted through land transfers, rezonings, development approvals and land projects, with these projects estimated to create at least another 1,500 aged care beds in the coming years.
This includes two lots at Sunshine Park in Lesmurdie which have been transferred to Burswood Care Pty Ltd, on the provision they are used or developed for aged care facilities.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Today's announcement is welcomed as we work together to bring on more aged care beds for Western Australians.
"My Government is investing heavily into ensuring we deliver quality health care to Western Australians. A boost in aged care beds will alleviate pressure on our hospitals.
"We are implementing our election commitment, and have fast-tracked more than 30 State-owned land parcels for aged care use.
"In collaboration, industry, government and the community are working together to manage the balance between demand and supply of aged care beds. New precincts like these create hundreds of jobs through construction and health care."
As stated by Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes:
"I welcome the commencement of the construction phase of the Karingal Green project which has been much anticipated by the community over the past 10 years.
"The facility when completed will go a long way to providing much needed additional operational residential aged care beds for the district.
"There remains, however, a significant shortage of high needs residential aged care in the electorate of Kalamunda.
"I am very pleased that the WA Labor Government has taken steps to address the identification of suitable land for residential aged care by the establishment early this year of the interagency Working Group on Aged Care Availability and to be an ex officio member of the group."
