Welcome
Welcome to the website for The Benevolent Society’s Apartments for Life at Ocean Street Project, to be located at our landmark site at Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Apartments for Life will be a groundbreaking project. It has been developed by The Benevolent Society as a response to the unprecedented growth in Australia’s ageing population and the need for new solutions to help older people age well.
Apartments for Life will increase the choices available to older people. The age-friendly design will enable older people to remain in the neighbourhood of their choice, live as independently as possible, and draw on care services as required. It will allow people to maintain their quality of life as they grow older.
Our aim is for 40% of the units to be affordable by local older people who are disadvantaged or who cannot afford to pay the full price because of the value of their current home.
Over the last three years we have submitted two Development Applications to Waverley Council, and have made significant revisions to our plans following an extensive community engagement process.
The Council deferred their decision about the second Development Application in August 2009, so we took our plans to the Land and Environment Court. In May the LEC approved the project, citing the substantial social benefits that it will bring.
In his judgment, Senior Commissioner Moore said the evidence of experts and other witnesses “supported the broad proposition that the Society’s “Accommodation for Life”, ageing in place life strategy for more elderly citizens was desirable not only for the occupants but, as I understood the evidence, on an economic as well as social cost efficiency basis …. the evidence of the witnesses listed above strongly supported not only the desirability of this model but also of the extensive local demand for it.”
The Benevolent Society is very pleased to have such a positive decision. However, the Court’s approval for 128 units instead of the 140 units we proposed creates a fresh challenge: our ability to deliver our goal of 40% affordable housing units, while maintaining the project’s financial viability.
We are currently reviewing the project’s design options and how we will move forward on this project.
Project Information
- Galaxy research - Coping with the impacts of our growing and ageing population: A universal concern, July 2010
- Apartments for Life in Australia: Lessons from Humanitas in The Netherlands, June 2009
- ACIL Tasman report - 'Apartments for Life' Housing, Care and Support Concept for Older People, July 2009
- Apartments for Life featured on ABC's 7.30 Report
- Project plans March 2009
- Most recent Community Newsletter
- Factsheet - A new concept in retirement living and aged care for Waverley
- Frequently Asked Questions about the project
- The project at a glance
- Location of site
- Background research papers on housing and services for older people
Contact us
If you would like to get in touch with us about this project please contact Barbara Squires on 02 9339 8000 or oceanstsite@bensoc.org.au