Several not-for-profit organisations in Western Australia are undertaking major construction projects to expand their operations and improve service delivery.
Several not-for-profit organisations in Western Australia are undertaking major construction projects to expand their operations and improve service delivery.
Applecross-based Baptistcare WA is embarking on a $72 million aged care redevelopment at Salter Point, involving the construction of 137 retirement living apartments and a 110-bed residential aged care facility, which will include a 25-bed dementia-specific wing.
To be called Riverside Salter Point, the project will incorporate a community centre with heated pool, gym, activities and functions areas.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia is also planning to build a high-support care facility, containing eight independent units, to be located in Hamilton Hill on land donated by the City of Cockburn in late 2005.
The centre, which will cost more than $1 million, is to be completed in mid-2008 and will provide 24-hour nursing and professional health care services to people with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions.
MS Society of WA chief executive officer Marcus Stafford said he expected the centre to be the first of a number of similar facilities in WA.
“We look out into the future and see an ageing population and an increasing number of people with disabilities in the community, and we see a need for high support care,” he said.
Mr Stafford said the northern metropolitan corridor had been identified as a potential area for care facilities, as had Bunbury.
Outside the aged care and disability services sector, NFP organisations are establishing community centres.
Anglicare WA is building two regional community centres, at a cost of $4.5 million, with the first to be located in Rockingham.
Estimated to cost $2.5 million, the centre is due to open in October and will provide a focal point for the organisation’s community services in the region.
A second, $2 million, community services centre is being planned for Albany, to be located on York Street at the rear of the St John Parish site.
The City of Cockburn – Youth Services is also building a $4.5 million youth centre in Success, to cater for 30,000 young people in the region.
The centre will provide recreational activities and support services.
Meanwhile, a number of not-for-profits are either building new headquarters or redeveloping existing facilities.
Morley-based community broadcaster Sonshine FM is in the early stages of building new offices on gifted land in Como, at a cost of $1.4 million.
The organisation raised $260,000 in a ‘radiothon’ last year, in addition to other fundraising efforts, and is hoping to raise a further $500,000 over the next year through donations and other activities.
Sonshine FM general manager Barry Grosser said the organisation was intending to move in during August 2008.
Last month, The Association for the Blind moved into its new $15.4 million facility in Victoria Park, which will host group-based living programs, recreational and educational services, and a public education centre.
Pending some final construction work on the discovery centre and theatrette, the organisation is planning a handover in July and an official opening in mid-September.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) is also in the final stages of planning a redevelopment of its Jandakot base, to expand its medical transfer area.
The project will involve gutting and refurbishing the organisation’s existing facility, as well as building six new accommodation units and new medical facilities for patient transfers.
The RFDS estimates the project will cost around $4 million – including fit-out – $3 million of which has been supplied in a Lotterywest grant.
In addition, the organisation is set to complete its five-year capital campaign at the end of June, which has raised about $15.6 million for the replacement of four aircraft.
In other projects, Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. is continuing with its $10.7 million village redevelopment, which began in May 1997.
Scheduled to be completed in 2010, the redevelopment will involve the upgrade and refurbishment of buildings within the village.
