ACAR Project – construction at Banksia Lodge

Background

In 2021, Banksia Villages successfully applied for a capital grant in the 2020 ACAR funding round. An amount of $2m was awarded to Banksia for the purpose of making improvements in the living environment of Banksia Lodge in support of a shift to a small household model of care.

Management and Board approved a proposal that will see a transition in Banksia Lodge’s physical environment and care model to a small household model. The ACAR funding will be used to implement the first stage in a master plan. The first stage (currently under construction) will include the establishment of two small households in the eastern end of the building, a central hub and cafe areas and extension to the Lodge sensory garden and path network.

In March 2024, just a few weeks after construction works commenced, Banksia’s appointed builder Project Coordination entered voluntary administration. Works recommenced on 17 June 2024, after management successfully negotiated termination of the contract with Project Coordination and entered an agreement with new builder, Edwards Constructions.

Banksia has a long history with Edwards Constructions who were involved in the original construction of Banksia Lodge and part so the village, and we welcomed the opportunity to work with them again on this project. The construction period is projected to be 44 weeks with practical completion to be achieved in May 2025.

Funding

Interruption and increased costs amount to approximately $700k over the initially approved budget. The total project cost is currently $5,320,068.00, with government funding making up $3,809,295.00 of this, with the remaining $1,510,773.00 met by Banksia.

Banksia Villages would like to acknowledge the generous financial support provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care that has made this project possible.

Project Milestones

August 2021 – Banksia Villages was confirmed to be successful in our application for a capital grant of $2m in the Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) program
2022 – Plans were developed and approved, numerous consultant reports were obtained, to meet approval requirements.
March 2023 – Confirmation was received that Banksia’s Development Application (DA) for Stage 1 works had been approved.
June 2023 – Banksia staff worked with Constructive Dialogue Architects to select the interior finishes for the new household kitchens and living areas as well as the cafe
July 2023 – a competitive tender process for construction work was undertaken, with Project Coordination chosen to partner with Banksia
March 2024 – construction work commenced
June 2024 – construction work re-commenced with Edwards Constructions
September 2025 – construction work is expected to be complete and the new model of care will be implemented.

November 2024 update including photos

Stage 2 of the construction project is currently underway, and residents in the Kookaburra wings are now using the temporary walkway to access the rest of the Lodge. Staff, residents and family members have been instrumental in ensuring the transition to the temporary walkway was a smooth one.

During Stage 2 the builders will complete a large part of the construction, with current work including completing installation of structural steel, pouring of concrete slab for the two new rooms in Household B (old training room) and for the new kitchen / dining / living area and deck for Household A, the installation of new roof trusses and, joinery work for both Households and the Café.

Building will stop for approximately two weeks over the Christmas / New Year period, with everyone back on board in January refreshed and keen to get the project completed in May/June 2025.

Below are some site photos to give you some insight into progress.

December 2024 – Banksia in print

Banksia’s project has featured in an article in Aged Care Insite magazine, published 2 December 2024. You can read the article here.

June 2025 – Update

Construction work is nearing completion and preparations are being made for the new households. See an update memo, including photographs here.

September 2025 – Small Household Model of Care commences

Construction work on the conversion of the eastern end of Banksia Lodge into two small households and a cafe is now complete. The new model of care has commenced and the 22 residents of Rosella House and Kookaburra House are adapting well to their new homelike environment. Banksia Lodge now operates a hybrid model of care, with rooms 25-80 continuing to operate with all the benefits of traditional care.

Banksia’s cafe will open to the Banksia community in the coming months.

The changes undertaken to date represent Stage 1 of a Masterplan and it is envisaged that the whole of Banksia Lodge will eventually be converted to small households, with the aid of further government funded grants.

Feedback and Questions Invited

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Project Elizabeth Paterson-Finlay via email acarprojectmanager@banksiavillage.com.au or phone 02 4471 6031. If you would prefer a face to face meeting, this of course can be arranged.

Photos of construction

above: view from Eastern boundary towards Household A – demolition in preparation for construction of Household A living area, including domestic kitchen, dining, lounge and deck.