9 February 2022

Former Tuggeranong offices being transformed into retirement village

| Ian Bushnell
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The former Tuggeranong Office Park is being converted into a retirement and aged village. Photos: Supplied.

The first project in a new model for retirement and aged care is taking shape in Tuggeranong, with the former Department of Social Services complex being transformed from the inside out in a $200 million redevelopment that will eventually be home to 500 residents by 2020.

A new player in the aged care sector, Brisbane-based LDK Healthcare is repurposing the former Tuggeranong Office Park in a joint venture with owner Cromwell Property Group.

The five-block site is being converted into a village with 380 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, care facilities and services including retail, a library, bar, chapel and town hall.

An artist’s impression of the front entrance.

The apartments will be 55 square metres for a one bedrooom up to 90 square metres for three beds, with their own kitchen, laundry bedroom/s, and ensuite. Groundfloor units will have courtyards, while units above will have balconies.

Blocks B and C have been fully stripped and the internal demolition of Block A is well under way. Block B with 11 apartments and much of the communal areas are expected to be complete by July 2019 with Block C to follow a couple of months later. Stage One will comprise 93 apartments.

READ ALSO The best retirement villages in Canberra

LDK is also planning 16 secure dementia beds as part of a 50-bed high care hub.

It is spending millions on the latest technology including sensors, voice recognition and predictive technologies.

CEO Byron Cannon said the Tuggeranong project would be the first in a rollout of similar projects across Australia, with the site considered to be perfect for the company’s needs.

“They (Cromwell) approached us last year to look at the building. That building is absolutely perfectly built for repurposing to a residential feel,” he said.

“What’s been left behind in that building by DSS is an absolute blessing for us, including a 140-seat auditorium.”

Mr Cannon said LDK wanted the development to have a homely feel and be a vibrant community.

He said there was also big demand for seniors living in Canberra, where a lack of investment meant there was a large under-supply of that type of accommodation.

LDK (Love Decency Kindness) is promising a genuine alternative to retirement living and aged care with its one-move, integrated model.

Mr Cannon said the sector was very siloed with retirement living at one end of the spectrum and aged care at the other, with not many operators doing both.

“We’ve developed a model where we have a one-move promise. Once a resident moves in they’ll receive all the care they need through their ageing journey, without having to move,” he said.

“It’s a big promise that we make, and we’ll make sure we have all the care and quality of care that people need to age in place,” he said.

He said residents, or Village members, would have transparent costs up-front that were fixed for life, with no extra charges to move to higher levels of care.

The company is banking on free community memberships to anyone aged over 70 to embed it in the community and win business.

“Instead of marketing we decide to invest money in a community membership program to genuinely support people who want to stay at home for as long as possible because that’s what people want to do,” Mr Cannon said.

Members are entitled to an advice line, VIP member events, respite care, hospital-registered nurse assistance, a newsletter and priority entry into villages.

Mr Cannon said the company would be in a position to start signing up people early next month, which is earlier than expected due to the demand.

LDK is conducting forums at Town Centre Vikings with the next on Thursday 20 September at 10 am and Wednesday 26 September at 3 pm.

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Very few windows by the look of the drawings.

I worked there a few times over the years from soon after it opened when it was the DSS National Office, well before Centrewhatever was dreamt up. Also attended the soft opening of F block. Actually at various times, on reflection, I worked in every block. But as another writer said, F block was the favourite and the gate behind E block was well used of a Friday afternoon.

It was the most expensive lease on a square metre basis the Commonwealth held at one stage, but for anyone working there it was luxury. The views are fantastic, and more than one staff member got to see their pride and joy being taken from the free car park by some local.

You knew you had done ok when a Secretary invited you for drinks and you got to see the private balcony. One Secretary used to practise his ornithology out there while another used to have beers out there while showing foreign dignatories his kangaroo herd.

I was always told it would be repurposed as an apartment complex or retirement facility one day. Guess they were right.

It’s good there is retirement homes being created in Tuggeranong, but at what cost to employment opportunities around the Tuggeranong town centre. Almost 2000 workers used to be housed in the buildings, that will now house about 550 residents.

The ACT government needs to be encouraging Tuggeranong town centre as an employment hub through proper zoning, not as zone for a retirement village.

Too much potential job growth for Tuggeranong over the years has been farmed out to the Airport Park and to inner canberra. Creating a demographic and public transport nightmare for Tuggeranong residents and workers.

Tuggeranong was designed to host much more employment, but the ACT government gave up on Tuggeranong in the early 2000s, forcing residents to travel out of the area for job opportunities.

This is Another example of short term thinking, creating long term problems.

The Dept of Social Services moved into a new building directly in front of Tuggeranong Office Park, the Enid Lyons Building.

This new facility will require staff and services, so it will more likely increase employment in Tuggeranong.

Your missing the point I’m making. There needs to be ‘more’ employment opportunities in Tuggeranong town centre.

It’s not about gaining one building and losing five others.

Tuggeranong has a very low population to employment ratio, where residents live and work in the same region. This has flow on effects for transport and housing.

The ACT government needs to be implementing incentives to increase employment opportunities around the Tuggeranong town centre for its long term viability and population health.

This proposal does the opposite.

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