City of Sydney to transform car park into aged care site

The City of Sydney is seeking aged care provider applications for a proposed aged care facility in the suburb of Redfern so it can establish affordable culturally appropriate residential aged care in the area.

The 1,925m² site at 49 Cope Street is a 55-place paid public car park. However, the Council acknowledged it is an underdeveloped space in a busy and rapidly changing inner-city neighbourhood. 

Critically, the new not-for-profit aged care facility must house at least 50 affordable residential aged care places and be delivered by, or in partnership with, local Aboriginal community-controlled organisations or Aboriginal providers. 

A 55-place underground carpark must also be built with the owner handing it back to the City of Sydney so it can run as a paid public carpark.

“There is a desperate need for culturally appropriate aged care in inner Sydney,” Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said 

“We’re selling this site for a token $1 to a community housing provider on the condition it delivers aged care in perpetuity, and a 55-space community car park under the development.  

“This makes the affordable and diverse housing project viable, while locals will continue to have space to park their cars. 

“We’ve heard what Redfern residents want and will make sure Aboriginal organisations and communities are at the centre of the delivery and operation of this new project.” 

The City of Sydney is also transferring 240m² of existing space on the Cope Street car park to Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care to keep it as an outdoor area. 

This helps them to meet objectives within the City’s Community Strategic Plan for affordable and diverse housing and the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan for Closing the Gap.

Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care was founded by Sylvia Scott, a Wiradjuri Elder from Cowra and Mary Silva, a Dunghutti Elder from Kempsey in 1996. It operates next to the car park and could be a frontrunner for involvement as a local service provider. It currently provides home care and disability support services. 

To be eligible for this expression of interest you must:

• be or partner with a local Aboriginal community-controlled organisation or Aboriginal provider
• be a registered not-for-profit organisation
• be a registered provider of residential aged care

The Council is also looking for applications involving parties experienced in the planning, design, construction and management of high-quality not-for-profit residential aged care facilities.

Employment opportunities for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community throughout all stages of development and operation are a must.

The ongoing expression of interest process tests the market’s interest before the Council opts to either seek more applications or negotiate directly with one or more respondents. 

Applications close at 11am on Thursday, December 19 2024. The outcome of this expression of interest process will be reported to the Council for consideration in early 2025. 

More information is available on the City of Sydney’s website.