A new aged care facility is planned for 49 Cope Street, Redfern, bringing much-needed affordable housing for elderly residents in the rapidly changing inner-city neighbourhood.
The City of Sydney has opened expressions of interest (EOI) for registered not-for-profit organisations to design, build, and operate the residential aged care facility. Applications close on Thursday, 19 December 2024, and are part of the city’s efforts to address housing shortages for older locals while fostering greater community involvement, especially among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Purpose of the Development
The new aged care facility will replace an underused 1,925 square metre public car park currently at the Cope Street site.
The City of Sydney aims to create a minimum of 50 affordable residential aged care places to serve the local community. The facility will focus on supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, with a requirement for the aged care service to be delivered by, or in partnership with, local Aboriginal organisations.
The proposal ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents and staff will be an integral part of the facility’s operations.
In addition to the aged care spaces, the successful bidder must build a 55-place underground car park, which will be handed back to the City of Sydney for continued operation as a paid public car park.
Eligibility and Criteria
The City of Sydney has set strict eligibility criteria for this project. Only registered not-for-profit aged care providers or those partnered with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations may apply. For-profit organisations, unincorporated groups, or individuals are not eligible to participate in the EOI process.
The property will be sold to the chosen applicant for $1, but a covenant will be placed on the land title ensuring the site is used exclusively for affordable aged care purposes in perpetuity. Financial stability is also required, as applicants must demonstrate the ability to fund, build, and sustain the facility long-term.
The evaluation process will consider both mandatory and qualitative criteria, including previous experience in designing and managing residential aged care facilities, as well as the ability to provide employment opportunities for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community during both the construction and operational phases of the project.
Next Steps
The City of Sydney will review submissions and report the outcome of the EOI process to the council in early 2025. The council may then decide to proceed with a select tender or negotiate directly with one or more of the applicants.
The aim is to begin development as soon as possible to meet the growing demand for affordable aged care services in the Redfern area.
This initiative represents an important opportunity for the Redfern community to increase affordable housing options for its elderly population while ensuring that local Aboriginal groups play a central role in the development and operation of the new facility.
