The former Queenscliff Health Centre will provide 37 new social homes, with priority given to women over 55, before the end of the year.
The new complex of 37 social housing apartments, using the shell of the original Health Centre, will include 27 studio apartments, eight one-bedroom apartments, and two two-bedroom apartments.
The homes will be reserved for women at risk of homelessness and seniors 55 years of age and over.
Community housing provider Link Wentworth will own and manage the property and eligible clients will pay 25 per cent of their income plus 100 per cent of Centrelink Rent assistance.
“The old Health Centre was at the heart of the Queenscliff community for more than 40 years, and by re-imagining and transforming the building, it will continue to serve as an asset for the community,” Link Wentworth CEO Andrew McAnulty said.
“It will provide amazing, high-quality homes forever.
“Lower lifetime earnings, limited superannuation, and rising living costs mean women are often among our most at risk.
“We see it all the time through Link Wentworth that a safe, stable, affordable home can change the course of someone’s life. The Queenscliff development will do exactly that.”
Link Wentworth reports that census data from 2021 revealed women 55 years and over are the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness, showing a six per cent increase.
“This is such a fantastic outcome for the Northern Beaches, who have waited a long time to see plans for this site come to life,” Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said at a ceremony to celebrate the halfway point of construction in February.
“We’re not only preserving a historical building that means a lot to this community, many of the new homes are going to women aged over 55, one of the fastest-growing group at risk of homelessness.”
The redevelopment dates back to 2020 when Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, was Mayor and pushed for the site to be used for affordable housing.
“This development will really help us all across the Northern Beaches, where our supply of social housing struggles to meet demand,” he said.
The former NSW Coalition Government purchased the site through state development body Landcom to repurpose the building to deliver social housing. The project, with $6.5 million NSW Government funding along with a contribution from Link Wentworth, has been hailed a testament to perseverance and partnerships.
“Delivering [social] housing requires strong partnerships, and this redevelopment is a great example of what can be achieved when government works constructively with community housing providers, councils and stakeholders to deliver practical solution with real outcomes for people,” Member for Manly, James Griffin said.
“I want to acknowledge all those who have played a part in bringing this to fruition, and in particular to Link Wentworth CEO Andrew McAnulty, who has championed this project for many years.”
Federal Member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, noted that despite housing stress being associated with outer metropolitan areas, the Northern Beaches experiences increasing demand for social and affordable housing.
“The challenge is ensuring social and affordable funds are directed to communities like ours – areas not always considered to be suffering housing stress, but where the need is real and growing,” she said.
“We’re facing a domestic violence crisis in Australia, and we know women over 55 are among the fastest-growing groups at risk of homelessness.
“When women and victim-survivors of domestic violence are forced to choose between remaining in an unsafe situation or facing homelessness, that is not just a housing issue – it is an indictment on our society.”
Read our earlier coverage:
Queenscliff Community Health Centre to be turned into social housing
