Sep-Oct 2016 Issue | Business View Oceania

222 Business View Oceania - September/October 2016 The very reason that the project was identified at the outset was to meet the growing needs of an ageing popula- tion. The group had identified that the populations in their towns were ageing, and this ageing demographic increas- ingly wanted to remain in their com- munity of choice, not being forced to leave town due to inadequate or inap- propriate housing. They wanted small- er, low care homes, central in the com- munity so that they could continue to live and enjoy all that smaller commu- nities’ offer and not be forced to move away, perhaps to a larger regional cen- tre where they did not know anyone or have any connection to that communi- ty. These residents are integral contrib- utors in their close-knit communities and wish to remain involved as long as practically possible. Independent living units are designed with ageing persons in mind – allowing residents to move around safely and catering for times where they may need mobility assistance. They are designed so the resident can live there as long as they are well enough to care independently for themselves, or with minimal assis- tance from outside carers. Recognis- ing that ultimately if they needed more permanent care, then the transition to a high care facility or similar would be required. ‘Ageing in place’ is the catch- cry and is widely supported and advo- cated for, for this ageing demographic. “The community has been really pos- itive. We’ve been able to retain mem- bers of our community that would otherwise have had to leave […]. Pre- viously, we haven’t had suitable or ad- equate housing stock within our com- munity to meet that demand so now that we have, we have been able to re- tain members of our community as we as attract new residents. Often these residents are significant volunteers in the community and contribute to the many and varied community groups. If they were to leave, then these contri- butions are lost. When you get older you don’t really want to leave the secu- rity of the place where you may have spent most of your life. You have your friends, your connections…some have lived in the community for 30, 40 or even 50 years. People are always more content to remain in a place they know rather than make a new life, and a new home, new friends and connections, in their twilight years”, Heidi explains. Meeting needs of whole community Not only has the Shire considered and planned for the needs of its ageing population, but they also addressed the infrastructure needs of the wider community. Over the last 10 years, the Shire has attracted considerable fund- ing and invested in improvements in the sport and recreation facilities in town, which has seen upgrades to the Williams Swimming Pool, tennis courts, the provision of a new shared basket- ball and netball surface, upgrades to the sports pavilion, the construction of a new hockey pitch, upgrades to the reticulation of the main sports oval (used for cricket and football primari-