Kathleen Mullins is part of a 24-member committee advocating for a community living facility to be built in Kyabram.
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Jemma Jones
A development plan has been unveiled by a local not-for-profit group that will provide housing to low-socio economic adults — but, there’s a catch.
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The group has the plans, the land, the hands and even the permits, but it needs a developer to make it all happen.
Volunteer group Henley Friends Inc has developed plans for a 15-unit community living facility to be built on Station St in Kyabram over three large blocks of land.
Concept plans show the complex will have a commercial kitchen, a dining room, a laundry, lounges and a non-denominational chapel along with 15 units each with an ensuite and wardrobe space.
Concept plans for the community living residence.
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Doors will be wider to account for medical gurneys, there will be no steps or ramps, and shown in the concept plans is a mobility scooter recharge garage.
Residents will be well looked after, with a cook preparing three meals per day, a cleaner cleaning community areas regularly, a gardener keeping up maintenance outside and a manager with nursing knowledge on site 15 hours per week.
The group began in 2011 when the committee of Henley Friends Inc formed on the back of the Henley Apartments in Kyabram ceasing.
The 23-person committee saw there was a gap in the Kyabram housing market for low socio-economic people over aged 55, and decided to plan to build a supported living home similar to what Henley Apartments had provided.
The community living project, which would become Henley Friends Inc, would cater to those with a low, fixed income (part or full pension) where people could pay 70 per cent of their full pension (plus rent assistance) to have an assisted living housing option.
They purchased two blocks of land in 2014 in Station St, which is now debt free, and have since bought a third adjacent piece of land, turning Henley Friends into a three-stage project.
Campaspe Shire Council confirmed the land could become a residential aged care facility and a planning permit was historically issued for the site in January 2022.
Concept plans for the Kyabram community-living facility imagine a vibrant community hub for low earners.
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Committee member Kathleen Mullins said it was a passion project they had diligently been working on for the past 15 years; however, it was now time for someone else to take the reins.
“We’re all approaching an older age, and we need someone young to take over,” she said.
Mrs Mullins said the land was already hooked up to electricity, water, gas and sewerage.
Additionally, the committee vowed to fundraise for extra expenses and have raised over $400,000 towards the project since it began 15 years ago.
Who would Henley Friends Inc be servicing?
Henley Friends Inc would be targeted towards over-55s, specifically those living on a pension.
A report by the Australia Institute found that the maximum a pensioner could get from the Age Pension was $1144.40 per fortnight, which is below the poverty line of $1224.94 per week for a single person (University of Melbourne, Poverty Lines: Australia March 2024).
A community-living service in Kyabram would service those who are living under the poverty line, providing them with accommodation and safety.
Does Kyabram need a community-living residence?
With Kyabram on the brink of a population increase, with more housing developments under construction, and a projected 650 lots to be filled over the next decade, there is also a rising need for residences for retirees.
Henley Friends Inc committee member Kathleen Mullins said with more families came their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents following the young.
“There’s a lot of people moving in to Ky now which are older people,” she said.
“And, if they’re younger, and they’ve got an elderly parent or two, (they) want somewhere to rent for them.
“There’s people in Kyabram that can’t afford their rent, and they’re staying on in the family home ... which puts a burden on those younger folk,” she said.
The motivation for the committee is simply to service those struggling to keep up with a changing economic world.
Their vision statement is: “To provide a home-like house for the tenants while promoting independence and self-worth in a safe and caring environment.”
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