Accessible Homes Australia (AHA) has announced its first Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) project on the northern Gold Coast, within Aniko Group’s $140 million 1 Grant Avenue residential precinct at Hope Island. The new project, scheduled to be open for occupation by December 2021, will see the creation of ten purpose-built, high physical support apartments within one of the Gold Coast’s leading residential apartment projects which is currently under construction.
The announcement of the partnership between AHA and Aniko Group, which is headed by George Mastrocostas, follows the launch of Accessible Homes Australia’s East Palm Beach project and a significant number of applications from eligible National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants looking to move into the purpose-built beachfront apartments. AHA Founder and CEO, Perry Cross AM, said the high demand came as little surprise considering the limited number of high-quality accessible homes available on the Gold Coast, and the appeal of living in a central location that can offer both independence and an enviable lifestyle.
“As a C2 ventilated quadriplegic, I experienced the disappointment of being unable to find suitable Specialist Disability Accommodation here on the Gold Coast firsthand,” he said.
“This lack of choice for participants and the difficult-to-navigate nature of the SDA scheme was our inspiration behind Accessible Homes Australia and what led me to create my own SDA apartment in Broadbeach, where I could finally achieve the lifestyle I’d longed for and a true sense of connection to my local community.”
Residents of 1 Grant Avenue will have the peace-of-mind of being in a gated estate with 24/7 security, as well as round-the-clock onsite care assistance provided by AHA partner MS Queensland. Participants will be able to access this concierge support service in addition to bringing their current primary care support team with them when they move in. The location is directly adjacent to the Hope Island Marketplace shopping and dining precinct and includes accessible amenities like an outdoor swimming pool with hoist, a private cinema, zen garden and waterfront boardwalk.
“In an SDA apartment, accessibility, fixtures and finishes are essential, but a central location and a great lifestyle is also important,” said Mr Cross.
“People living with disabilities often feel disconnected, isolated and left out, so being in the thick of the action and close to public transport is truly life-changing.”
The one participant, two-bedroom apartments of 1 Grant Avenue fall into the High Physical Support SDA Design Category and include waterfront views, customised living areas, pre-fitted home automation and communication technologies, and bedroom hoist provisions. Accessible Homes Australia Managing Director Tom Ray said they were putting an emphasis on creating SDA apartments in everyday communities with enviable lifestyle and amenity opportunities.
“East Palm Beach opens for occupation this August, and we have fast-tracked our 1 Grant Avenue project to support northern Gold Coasters living with high support needs by placing them in a quality home perfectly suited to the individual,” he said.
“1 Grant Avenue will bring the total number of SDA homes delivered by us to 18 across three different locations, and we continue to search for potential new developments to improve the shortfall between SDA participants and suitable homes available.
“The inclusion of 1 Grant Avenue in Hope Island to our offering further supports our mission to build suitable housing in Queensland’s most enviable locations, and we thank George Mastrocostas at Aniko for working with us to so seamlessly integrate our SDA apartments into his residential project.”
Mr Mastrocostas said he was delighted to be in a position to include apartments within 1 Grant Avenue that are tailored to community members requiring high levels of care.
“We are proud to be associated with AHA in delivering high quality Specialist Disability Accommodation at 1 Grant Avenue project at Hope Island,” said Mr Mastrocostas.
“We recognise the incredible need for SDA accommodation on the Gold Coast and we are delighted to be able to assist AHA in expanding this level of service within the community.
“1 Grant Avenue has been one of the best-selling apartment projects on the Gold Coast since launching in early 2020 and we look forward to delivering this project to the market in the coming months.”
For more information on AHA’s SDA apartments at 1 Grant Avenue or East Palm Beach visit Accessible Home Designs or email team@accessiblehomes.com.au.
