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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-12-02 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: CBD Disability Respite Facility

Adjourned debate on motion of Ms Digance:

That the 535th report of the committee, entitled CBD Disability Respite Facility, be noted.

(Continued from 18 November 2015.)

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:46): I rise today to make a small contribution to the 535th report, entitled CBD Disability Respite Facility. This is a really important project to meet the increasing need for respite services. A significant number of people living with a disability are located in regional South Australia and required to travel to visit Adelaide for treatment and respite. This is a situation that every country MP comes across regularly.

As it stands, there is currently short-term accommodation for people who require specialised accommodation with support services, but the long waiting list to access these facilities is concerning. Due to the shortage in respite supply, existing disability institutions, such as Highgate Park, are being used to meet the demand. A shortage of accommodation for people with disabilities travelling to Adelaide for recreational purposes is also an issue.

As of 30 September 2015, there were 605 people with a recorded unmet need for respite services on the DCSI Unmet Need Register. In June 2014, the state government committed $7.44 million (GST exclusive) to establish a new disability respite facility. This is a proposal for 18 disability respite apartments located in the CBD, to be redeveloped by Uniting Communities, initially proposed at 43 Franklin Street. The estimated cost for the full project is between $60 million and $66 million and, while demolition will occur mid next year, the project is not due to be completed until September 2018.

It is disappointing that this project will not be completed until 2018. It will be a win for the people with a disability, it will be a win for their families, their friends, the care providers and volunteers. I know, having endured the wrath of people who are caring for people with a disability, that it is an area where those people do need respite and it is an area where those people do need the support. This facility is long overdue; it will not be completed until September 2018, but it is going to be a great boon for the disability sector.

During the hearing, the committee was told that South Australia's level of respite service is below many other jurisdictions, and there is an expectation that services will need to double under the NDIS. My concern is that the long-term project is still in its very infant stages. However, it was approved by the committee and I look forward to watching this project develop. I commend the report to the house.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:50): Thank you to all the members who contributed to this debate. This is a visionary project and it is certainly a collaborative project, thanks to Uniting Communities, to see the development of 18 disability respite apartments in the heart of our city, centralising that particular care.

I note that the member for Chaffey said that he is disappointed with the progress and timing of the project. Nevertheless, we have this visionary project that we have supported at the Public Works Committee and we will see it unfold, and I am sure this will not be the last of this type of project. With that, I thank the Public Works Committee, the executive officer and admin officer, and all those witnesses who came to give us evidence on this project. I recommend the report to the house.

Motion carried.

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