Work is well underway on Rockpool’s $43 million, 150-bed aged care home at Carseldine in Brisbane, touted as Australia’s first five-star green-star rated residential aged care facility.
Set to open in July after construction began last year, the home – part of the new Carseldine Village masterplanned development – will offer aged and respite care, as well as specialist memory support care, across six storeys.
The home will be built from concrete containing recycled materials, steel made with energy-saving techniques, and ethically-sourced timber; additionally, it will be a gas-free, electricity-only site, with three electric vehicle charging stations, hundreds of solar panels, and measures such as rainwater collection and heat exchange for laundries and kitchens.
Melissa Argent, CEO of Rockpool Residential Aged Care, told the Courier-Mail that serious thought had gone into obtaining the stringent eco-friendly certification.
“There are considerable costs involved; however, the legacy for our residents, staff, the environment and the efficient long-term operating costs easily make the entire project worthwhile.
“To achieve the five-star Green Star design rating, every aspect of the Carseldine project must be evaluated. Everything is constantly being assessed and measured including energy and water consumption to ensure we meet predetermined targets,” she said.
The entire precinct, including residential and commercial areas, will be completed in stages over the next few years.
