The Vasey RSL Frankston South redevelopment will go from catering for 210 residents to more than 600 in a $320m overhaul.
Victoria’s ageing and financially struggling Vietnam veterans are set for a housing lifeline after the approval of hundreds of new retirement homes prioritised for their use.
But there is still a significant waiting list of veterans seeking housing, both for retirement living and affordable housing, according to industry groups.
The Allan government this week approved the expansion of the Frankston South Vasey RSL Care site, with plans it will go from catering to 210 residents to more than 600 in a $320m overhaul.
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Upon completion it will have 80 beds for aged care in a dedicated facility on site, as well as 414 retirement units — a total of 494.
A mix of apartments, villas, townhouses and assisted-living spaces are included in the changes.
Within this number, 105 units have been set aside as affordable housing for veterans of all ages.
The remaining units will treat retired veterans as a priority, though are open to the wider Frankston and Mornington Peninsula’s over-65 community.
In addition to the residences, the expansion will include a central piazza with a cafe, restaurant, grocery store, health services, exercise facilities, a movie theatre and multipurpose spaces.
The Vasey RSL Frankston South redevelopment will include a central square.
Vasey RSL Care chief executive Janna Voloshin said with veterans three times as likely to experience homelessness as the wider community, the expansion was an exciting opportunity to support Australia’s military service community.
Ms Voloshin said Vietnam veterans, many of them conscripted to fight rather than volunteering, were the majority of those seeking aged care through their organisation at the moment.
However, she noted many veterans, being men in their 50s, 60s or 70s, were not priorities for public housing programs, and so their organisation made them their top choice.
The organisation has also applied for further funding under the Housing Australia Future Fund.
The Frankston South redevelopment was approved under the Victorian government’s Development Facilitation Program, and will have a quarter of the new units set aside as affordable housing.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny says the approval will deliver homes where they are needed most. Picture: NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui.
Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said the program had pushed through thousands of homes across the state, with the veterans the latest to benefit.
“We’re delivering more homes where they’re needed most – supporting our veterans and their families with the care and dignity they deserve.”
Minister for Veterans Natalie Suleyman said the facility would house veterans and their families.
“We’re backing veterans who’ve served and sacrificed for our country,” Ms Suleyman said.
It comes after federal Health Minister Mark Butler revealed Australia needs to open a new aged care facility every three days for the next 20 years to generate enough aged-care beds for its rising older population in a radio interview on Adelaide’s FIVEAA radio station last month.
“When I was last Aged Care Minister 15 years ago, about 15,000 Australians turned 80 every year. Next year, it will be 90,000,” Mr Butler said.
“Demand for aged care services really is skyrocketing right now because we are in the midst of the first of the baby boomers turning 80.”
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