Bank Street – An innovative approach to SDA

Taking an innovative approach to special disability accommodation (SDA), the Bank Street apartments enable residents to integrate into the community whilst simultaneously having both independence and support. Funding the build, and now owners of the units, Rocky Bay took on a joint venture with Celsius as the landowner, developer and property manager. Northerly was pleased to be contracted as the builder on this SDA project.

The Bank Street apartments are a group of eight units located in the well-situated, leafy suburb of East Victoria Park, a stones throw from Victoria Park Aquatic Centre and Oats St train station. Four of the eight units are available for rent to the public, with another four specially designed for clients and carers of Rocky Bay. Two on-site overnight assistance units are designated spaces for carers to stay, with a total of four of the eight units being SDA modified for Rocky Bay clients. Along with all the features of a standard dwelling, these units have a fully automated in-home system to control various switches and appliances throughout, as well as adjustable height benchtops, wider hallways, raised garden beds and safety features such as emergency buttons and grab rails.

The official opening of Bank Street saw Managing Director, Michael Lawson, meet with Town of Vic Park CEO, Anthony Vuleta, Rocky Bay CFO, Adam Maxwell, SHIFT Chair, Jeff Holloway, Celsius Managing Director, Richard Pappas, along with Rocky Bay clients, Malcolm Burgess and Rhonda Kallenberg. Additional to a ribbon cutting there was a smoking ceremony to ward off bad spirits.

Northerly thoroughly enjoyed being a part of bringing this special disability accommodation project to life, and the team look forward to working on future SDA projects that are currently in the pipeline with Rocky Bay.