Gladstone Regional Council and non-profit organisation, The Shelter Collective, are working to address the ongoing under supply of affordable independent living rentals in the region.
Council has worked with The Shelter Collective to facilitate the transformation of 20 units at the former site of Hibiscus Gardens Aged Care Facility, located at 45 French Street in South Gladstone.
The site has been dormant since late 2015 and will be reinvigorated to provide safe, secure and dignified accommodation for women over the age of 55 who are sleeping rough, as well as essential service workers who are struggling to find affordable housing in Gladstone.
“For women over 55, secure housing offers more than a roof overhead – it provides stability, safety and the opportunity to rebuild independence, wellbeing and connection,” said The Shelter Collective chair, David Grenfell OAM.
“For essential service workers, affordable accommodation means the ability to remain in the community they serve, ensuring Gladstone continues to function and thrive.”
Gladstone Region Mayor, Matt Burnett said the project, known as ARC21 (Affordable Residential Communities), is something the community has wanted to see for a long time.
“This project ties directly into Council’s advocacy for more housing in the region, which has been a priority of ours for many years as we look to tackle challenges surrounding availability, accessibility, and affordability,” Mayor Burnett said.
“We are proud to play our part in facilitating this project for The Shelter Collective and this is a fantastic example of our Development Services team working to achieve positive outcomes for the community.”
The project is expected to be complete in April 2027.
Click here to learn more about The Shelter Collective.
