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Master Plan green light = new homes and jobs

Announcement posted by Leverage PR 16 May 2016

People living with a disability, the local construction industry and South Australia’s economy are all set to be big winners, after the State Government’s Development Assessment Commission today approved the next stage of Minda’s self-funded $260m+ Master Plan development in Adelaide's seaside suburb of Brighton.

Minda CEO Cathy Miller said the decision gave the green light for the staged construction of 18 x single storey houses, 2 x three storey residential apartment buildings as replacement and updated accommodation for individuals supported by Minda, as well as 4 x Life Style Option buildings.

“This is a landmark day in Minda’s 118-year history because it offers an opportunity to progressively replace outdated living arrangements for more than 170 residents with new accommodation that combines the comfort of home with a contemporary model of service delivery and state-of-the-art technologies,” Ms Miller said.

“It is vital that people with disabilities are placed at the centre of key decisions which impact their lives. This purpose-built accommodation aligns with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The masterplan facilitates Minda to create a high quality, integrated, affordable, innovative, liveable and sustainable urban community that delivers on diversity of lifestyle choice that will support Minda’s residents to live enriched lives of their choosing.

“We have been very pleased to work with the local community and the State Government in bringing this development to fruition.”

Ms Miller said Minda’s Master Plan was expected to create more than 850 new jobs during the construction phases and result in $95m flowing into the local economy.

“This is largest non-Government development in South Australia, and an environmentally-responsible approach to our planning will ensure preservation of the undeveloped secondary dunes and creation of a wetland area to attract wildlife and capture stormwater run-off,” Ms Miller said.

The retirement living component of the Master Plan – Brighton Dunes – directly funds the construction of Minda’s purpose-built facilities, with approval also given for the construction of a 7-storey and a 5-storey buildings, containing 70 apartments for the over 55s market, which will be  offered through a license to occupy arrangement.

“We recognise that our parcel of paradise is unique in the coastal area, and clever design and careful planning will see more than 80% of our 28-hectare site remaining as open space,” she said.

“To be a viable competitor in the sector and best-position Minda in this new operating environment created by the National Disability Insurance Scheme, it has been critical to embrace innovative thinking and place greater focus on our social enterprises to achieve a sustainable operating arrangement, rather than continuing to operate with an annual deficit.”

ABOUT MINDA’S MASTERPLAN

Stage One of Minda’s Master Plan was completed in late 2014, with the remaining five stages scheduled for completion by 2022.

A total of 61 people who expressed an interest in living in supported, share-house arrangement were the first in late 2014 to move into a mix of single-storey three bedroom, four bedroom and exceptional needs dwellings, and an apartment building with 17 x one and two bedroom apartments.

In addition to reflecting best practice in Universal Design Principles and Ageing in Place, the range of housing options includes energy-efficient LED lighting features throughout, while solar hot water and extensive insulation in walls and ceilings achieve the performance benchmark of a minimum 6-star rating.

Stage 1 also saw 2 x three-storey apartments constructed on the corner of Repton Road and The Esplanade, with each containing 24 apartments comprising of a mixture of two bedrooms and two bedroom + study and three bedrooms and three bedrooms + study for the over 55’s market.

About Minda

Established in 1898, Minda is the largest non-government disability support organisation in South Australia that assists individuals with a disability to thrive in their local environments as valued members of their communities by offering residential and lifestyle services, employment and respite support.