2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 1 Housing Needs Assessment

dwelling amendments and an increase in the establishment of small unit or semi detached
complexes not necessarily specifically for the aged, should contribute significantly.

To encourage retirement villages and aged care facilities in Brisbane, BCC has introduced
incentives to shorten the development approval process, provide some certainty on approval
times and make aged care applications a priority in Council (see box).

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL - RETIREMENT LIVING AND AGED CARE ACCOMMODATION INCENTIVES

In September 2016, Brisbane City Council announced incentives to support the delivery of accommodation
suitable for the city’s ageing population. There were four components of the plan:

          An infrastructure charge discount of 33% for development approvals between September 2016 and 31
           December 2019 for new retirement living or residential aged care developments in the Brisbane LGA.
          Improvements to development assessment processes, including free pre-lodgement advice, dedicated
           assessment managers for new retirement and aged care housing, and a decision within 90 business
           days.
          Greater consideration for accommodation suitable for older people when drafting neighbourhood
           plans.
          Amendments to City Plan 2014 (currently in draft amendments and expected to come into effect in
           2017) that offer a more streamlined approvals process – including:
       -     Updating the strategic framework of City Plan 2014 to acknowledge well-located retirement
             facilities and aged care facilities are envisaged in Suburban Living Areas, and recognise that small-
             scale commercial, retail and community uses suitable for integration with retirement
             accommodation are encouraged.
       -     Creating a retirement facility and aged care facility code with specific provisions tailored to these
             facilities.
       -     Lowering the level of assessment to code assessment for refurbishment of existing facilities, reuse of
             existing sites and in a broadened range of zones.
       -     Increasing allowable building heights by two storeys as code assessable development in the medium
             and high density residential zones.
       -     Making code assessable, small-scale commercial, retail and community uses in retirement facilities
             and aged care facility developments.
       -     Identifying opportunities for facilities on privately owned sport and recreation zoned land.
       -     Make self assessable, transitioning an existing building from retirement facility to aged care facility
             or vice versa.



It is untested whether these incentives will increase the supply of aged accommodation in
Brisbane, or indeed whether they would increase the supply in Noosa Shire given the shortage of
land for such facilities. However it is clear that given the shortage of land for new retirement or
aged care facilities in Noosa, there may indeed be a need to simplify and facilitate the
redevelopment of existing facilities.

Likewise, changes in models of institutional care are also such that increasingly, the inclusion of
other types of uses on retirement village sites (to keep older people ‘in their community’) may be
demanded, and the definitions between types of care will undoubtedly be broken down over
time.

Flexibility of uses which can be included on retirement village or aged care sites appears
consequently desirable and may facilitate the development of new models.




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