Warrandyte Community Retirement Housing Co-operative – Riverside Village

History of the Warrandyte Community Retirement Housing Cooperative

Warrandyte is a semi-rural township on the outskirts of Melbourne suburbs. It has important historical links and maintains a remarkably strong community spirit.

However, Warrandyte offers serious challenges and difficulties for elderly residents. A local government report and subsequent strategy “Ageing Well in Manningham” initially developed in the late 90’s and early 2000’s highlighted the need for urgent social and public welfare action in regard to elderly residents, and Warrandyte elderly residents in particular. Due to topographical constraints, planning restrictions and lack of development opportunities there continues to be an urgent need for housing suitable and safe for elderly residents in the community. The stock of housing specifically designed for elderly accommodation in Warrandyte is approximately 0.25% whereas 25.5% of the population is over 55 years and 10.5% are over 65 years, [2011 census] with forecasts increasing.

Attempts by local government, church groups and commercial developers to introduce elderly friendly housing alternatives to Warrandyte have largely failed for a variety of reasons.

In 2005 the Warrandyte Community Association Inc. established a working group to address the serious social and safety problems faced by elderly residents in Warrandyte. These concerns include maintaining and using steep and large native bush blocks and gardens, safety in bushfires, access to transport, walking paths and services. The dislocation caused by elderly residents moving out of the locale is undesirable for the whole Warrandyte community not just the residents themselves.

The Warrandyte Community Retirement Housing Cooperative Ltd., a non-trading cooperative with shares, was formed from this working group by a number of concerned local volunteers.

The initial efforts of the Co-op in supporting elderly residents in Warrandyte resulted in the establishment of Warrandyte’s ‘Creekside’ micro retirement village in 2010/11. The ‘Riverside’ village followed in 2019. Through the support of the municipal council, other community groups, volunteers and benefactors, the not for profit co-op devised and implemented a unique model that has received widespread acclaim within the community and state-wide.
Mission.

The Co-op aims to assist the welfare of the elderly in the Warrandyte community through the provision of retirement housing options. This is done on a not-for profit, community managed and community subsidised basis on the premise that a community has a responsibility to look after the needs of its elderly citizens.
The Co-op acknowledges that elderly Warrandyte residents are uncommonly disadvantaged due to the extremely low availability of housing specifically suited to the needs of the elderly within the locality.

Contact Details:

WCRHC, PO Box 352, Warrandyte 3113

Email: wcrhc.warrandyte@gmail.com

Phone: Andrew on 0403924899.