[+] Australia’s Ageing Population: For Penrith, the Future is Now

It’s no secret—Australia’s population is getting older, and it’s doing it faster. Statistics published by the University of Sydney show that by 2026 more than 22 percent of Australians will be aged over 65 years, and that’s up from 16 per cent in 2020. Which was already double the 8.3 percent at the start of the 1970s. It’s partly fault of the Baby Boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—followed by a falling birth rate. But the author of the Sydney University report says the statistics are underpinned by some positives—Australians are living on average 30 years longer than they were a century ago. In a report last year for the 360info website, a professor at the university, Lee-Fay Low, said for children born between 2019-2021, boys have a life expectancy of 81 and girls 85 years. It means, she says, as these children grow into adulthood it will change how Australians look at and think about ageing. And where and how they live. “The makeup of our society will trigger a drastic change in the services needed and how many need them,” Low wrote. If that’s true, then for Penrith City Council the future is now. ▲ Uniting is approved for 147 independent-living units across five buildings at Emu Plains. Nestled on the banks of the Nepean River and at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the city of Penrith (not the municipality), with a population of less than 19,000, has eight retirement, aged-care, or independent-living facilities. According to architects and urban designers Group GSA, within that same catchment area, another eight facilities are in the pipeline. One of those—a $99-million seniors’ independent-living village at Emu Plains on the Nepean’s western banks—won development approval last week from the Sydney Western City Planning Panel. The Uniting Church’s 147 independent-living apartments, about 30 per cent of which will be available as affordable housing for seniors, will sit within the developer’s existing Edinglassie Village between Emerald and Troy streets. Edinglassie Village opened in 1970 and six years ago, in November, 2018, the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust won development approval for a new three-storey, 100-bed residential aged-care facility within the village. With that completed and operational, the church now wants to demolish 45 aging independent-living units that remain and build another 147 units and a clubhouse across five buildings, as well as basement carparking. ▲ Emu Plains on the Nepean River. The report found 21.6 per cent of its population is aged over 65 years. A heritage-listed mid-Victorian stone chapel, built in 1862 and integrated into Uniting’s 1.82ha grounds in 1979, will be retained. Uniting counts 22 independent-living villages across NSW and the ACT, with four in western Sydney—Penrith, Blacktown, Hawkesbury and Springwood. Uniting director of property and housing Simon Furness says the ageing population and demographic of the area highlighted the urgent need for more affordable living options for seniors. He says the aged-care provider has been in the Penrith area for 50 years. “Our focus is on providing homes and facilities that enhance the quality of life for older Australians so they can age in place and stay connected with their local communities,” Furness says. And it’s Penrith where the problem is particularly evident. ▲ Uniting’s Mullauna facility in Blacktown. The latest generation of Australian women has a life expectancy of 85 years. In documents supporting Uniting’s development application, town planners Gyde Consulting said the Penrith local government authority “was experiencing, and will continue to experience, an ageing of its population”. Of the existing stock of 687 independent-living units, Gyde says there is just a 7 per cent vacancy rate. Penrith City Council is concerned enough that in March last year it commissioned a report on the issue from ID consultants. That report found 13 per cent of the Penrith city population is aged over 65 years. But in Emu Plains, just 5km to the west, that figure was 21.6 per cent. In Mount Vernon, Kemps Creek and Badgerys Creek—all about 25km away— 20.8 per cent is aged over 65 years, and in nearby Orchard Hills it’s 20.3 per cent. The report said nearly 15 per cent of the area’s seniors (65 to 84 years) still worked but salaries for Penrith city’s older residents are 11 per cent lower than the average in Greater Sydney. ▲ Uniting won development approval for this now-completed three-storey, 100-bed residential aged-care facility within the village in 2018. Penrith mayor Todd Carney says the area arguably has one of the highest ageing population rates within the Sydney basin. “The council commissioned that report because we understood our population is getting old,” he told The Urban Developer . “Our biggest challenge has been not just to have the accommodation available for the ageing population but also the type of accommodation that allows them to transition from independence. “We have many elderly residents who are still living at home in family-size homes, which has the ongoing impact on the availability of houses into the market, as well. “So it ’ s critical that we have the right mix of aged accommodation.” Carney says it was also about ensuring the council had the amenities within Penrith right as well, amenities that cater for the elderly through accessibility. In fact, the council has had a so-called Access Committee since 1992, which oversees development and implementation of policies on aged and disabled accessibility. ▲ A heritage-listed mid-Victorian stone chapel built in 1862 will be retained on Uniting’s site. “We know our population is growing and we want to make sure this is a place where it ’ s easy to get around and people really want to spend their retirement years.” There have been major changes in retirement and aged-care living in recent years, moving from annexed villages in the outer suburbs into urban shoptop vertical housing and integrated campus-style communities. And into the regions. According to Furness, Uniting has $4 billion of new developments in the pipeline during the next 10 years and the aim of them all will be better integration to allow residents to age in place. In 2021, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 82 per cent of people aged 70-74 were homeowners and it is these homeowners, who have equity in their assets, who are most likely to want to age in place—if not directly in their homes then at the least in their own suburb and community. Uniting says the construction of the second stage of Edinglassie Village in Emu Plans is due to start early next. It is expected to create up to 200 jobs during construction. Join retirement living players Australian Unity, LDK, Reside Communities and Ingenia as we explore the trends, challenges and opportunities of this rapidly evolving sector at The Urban Developer ’ s Retirement Living Summit on June 6 in Brisbane. You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

[+] Australia’s Ageing Population: For Penrith, the Future is Now

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[+] Australia’s Ageing Population: For Penrith, the Future is Now

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