Seniors lose out on NT housing

THE Territory’s peak body for seniors has spoken out against the NT government for “quietly” rejecting seniors’ lifestyle accommodation project proposals despite committing to their development at the 2016 election.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) NT chief executive Sue Shearer said there has long been a shortage of aged care accommodation in the Darwin central, Darwin rural and Alice Springs areas and a lack of accommodation options for retirees.

However, she said after seeking expressions of interest and detailed proposals for the development of seniors’ lifestyle accommodation projects, the NT government declined all proposals last week as they “did not represent value for the Territory”.

“The proposals sought significant financial contributions to the development by the NT government,” an online statement from the Chief Minister and Cabinet says.

Ms Shearer said seniors were growing frustrated with waiting for “the type of residences that senior Territorians want to live in as they grow older” after the development of seniors’ lifestyle accommodation was listed as one of Labor’s 2016 election promises but hasn’t had any progress.

“Understandably, frustration is kicking in as almost five years later, this election promise is still not any closer to being realised,” she said.

“While we can understand the fiscal inhibitors, from an economic standpoint Territorians need government to invest in the Territory’s future.”

She said the slow movement on this issue could result in seniors leaving the Territory and moving south for their retirement.

“This choice for retirement and lifestyle living options is for the Baby Boomer generation that helped to build the Territory; it is for future generations of Territorians who want to grow old in their Territory and it could be for Australians living in other parts of Australia, who would choose to live, to spend and to invest here too,” she said.

“We should provide living options for older Territorians sooner rather than later, or not be surprised that people vote with their feet and decamp and downsize to live in other more accommodating states.”

Minister for Seniors Lauren Moss said the government “remains open to engaging with the private sector to facilitate the sustainable development of new seniors’ lifestyle accommodation options”.

“I meet regularly with COTA to talk about issues facing our seniors and how we can better support them to continue living healthy, fulfilling lives here in the Territory,” she said.