Page 312 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2016
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(3) What assistance, if any, is currently provided to seniors who live independently and require assistance in maintaining their homes and gardens.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Planning for the needs of older Canberrans is a critical consideration for my combined portfolio responsibilities for ageing and planning.
With recent trends demonstrating the continued ageing of Canberra’s population from 12% aged 65 years and over in June 2014 to an estimated 22% by 2062, planning recognises an ongoing need for adequate and appropriate housing choices for older Canberrans, from independently staying at home to those requiring more support and care in aged care accommodation.
On 19 November 2015, I tabled the ACT Active Ageing Framework 2015 – 2018 and associated Action Plan which, among other things, recognises the importance of the continuing work undertaken by Housing ACT and the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate in providing age appropriate affordable housing and other forms of social housing for Canberra’s seniors.
In the recently released Minister for Planning’s Statement of Planning Intent 2015 the need for housing to respond to Canberra’s diverse and changing population in the future is recognised, particularly creating age-friendly neighbourhoods close to shops, transport and services.
Variation to the Territory Plan 306 (V306) introduced secondary residences as a housing option on a single dwelling block. A secondary residence can be up to 90m2 in size and is permitted on large blocks over 500m2. As the residence is required to be adaptable it provides the opportunity for Canberrans to age in place – living in the smaller secondary residence and either having family members live in the primary residence or rent this out as an additional source of income.
Current research confirms the positive benefits of people ageing within their community and continuing to live in familiar neighbourhoods. The planning response recognises the need for diversity in the demand for different housing types as people continue to age in place, either in their current homes or smaller, well-located retirement living choices, while gradually requiring the introduction of supportive aged care services.
This is a particular focus of the master plans being undertaken for town and group centres. As an example, the Weston Group Centre Master Plan identifies opportunities for diversity of housing choice, including supportive housing, and options to downsize and age in place close to the Weston Group Centre. The draft Variation to the Territory Plan (DV329 Weston Group Centre) incorporates the recommendations of the Weston Group Centre Master Plan.
The Territory and Municipal Services Directorate has completed a community survey of infrastructure and facilities in Weston and Ainslie. Weston and Ainslie are to be Canberra’s first age-friendly suburbs by improving infrastructure and facilities to make pedestrian access and commuting easier for older residents.
(2) The government uses demographic data in a statistical model to determine the appropriate level of land to be released for use as aged care facilities and retirement
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