Sunshine Cost based community services provider ComLink has commenced construction on an Australian first health and wellness hub which will take a collaborative approach to tackle some of the nation’s major health challenges including isolation, loneliness and mental health.
ComLink CEO Feda Adra said the $20 million Vitality Village hub will be a five storey, 4700 m2 building in the heart of the heath precinct at Birtinya which will include designated office spaces with drop-in services, open space for presentations and events, community gardens as well as a café with seating and tables for tenants and visitors.
“Vitality Village will bring together innovators in the not-for-profit, private business and public sectors to collaborate their skills and knowledge to solve global problems locally. This will be underpinned by four sectors including services, innovation, research and education.
“It is timely that we are commencing construction of this project given the impact that coronavirus is having on our daily lives. When we came up with this concept, we never envisaged we would face a global pandemic and the purpose of Vitality Village will be to tackle issues such as isolation, mental illness, ageing well and finding ways to better connect our community to promote mental and physical wellbeing.
“The Vitality Village will provide an environment for our tenants or ‘villagers’ to identify and deliver significant improvements to health care and wellbeing through collaboration between providers, innovators, researchers and the community.
“Together we will disrupt the health sector, create substantial cost savings to the national health budget and achieve better outcomes for all Australians who are facing complex health challenges,” Feda said.
Project Manager Scott Lisle said during the construction phase around 100 full-time equivalent employees will be onsite with around 118 full time positions supported indirectly, for a total employment impact of 168 full time jobs over the next 12 months.
“Vitality Village will have a total industry impact of $33.4 million during the construction phase, supporting local jobs and promoting market leading innovation. We anticipate Vitality Village will make a fantastic contribution to gross regional product (GRP) of around 0.15% each year and deliver for local workers and businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
“This project is supporting local investment, jobs and related industries like construction, retail and manufacturing.”
Post construction, Vitality Village will provide:
- Direct annual income (wages and salaries) of $8.5 million, with $1.6 million in additional income generated through flow on effects in other industries and a further $4.5 million from household spending;
- Approximately 122.9 direct full-time equivalent (FTE) employment positions, with an estimated additional 102.7 employment positions supported indirectly through other industries and household consumption for a total employment impact of 225.6 FTEs.
“The long-term economic benefits of this project are just as exciting as the benefits of a revitalised health and wellness sector for the Sunshine Coast,” Scott said.
Feda said ComLink will be the foundation tenant of Vitality Village with all 180 staff and volunteers relocating from their current office in Innovation Parkway at Birtinya to the new building.
“We also have commitments from other tenants including 121 Care, Your Employment Solutions and Character Care and there is strong interest from a number of other parties. We can’t wait to see Vitality Village operating at full capacity and positively changing the health and wellbeing of locals.
“With an ageing population and rising national health bill, Vitality Village is a game changer for not just the Sunshine Coast but as a platform that can be rolled out across Australia and globally,” Feda said.
McNab Sunshine Coast Manager Carl Nancarrow said it was great timing to see a local community based organisation like ComLink investing in the future of the region.
“We are delighted that they’ve selected McNab to undertake this build. More than ever, supporting local employment is critical and we expect to have approximately 100 local Sunshine Coast staff and subcontractors onsite at peak times, so this commencement is not only good news for McNab but also the local construction industry and economy,” Carl said.
Vitality Village has been designed by Maroochydore based BRD Group and built by McNab who expect the project to be completed by mid 2021. Leasing enquiries can be made through CBRE Sunshine Coast.
To find out more about Vitality Village visit www.vitalityvillage.com.au
Established more than 30 years ago, ComLink is focused on providing innovative and individualised solutions to help people live fulfilling and meaningful lives. With locations across Queensland, almost 500 staff and ComLink volunteers provide aged care and transport solutions to more than 30-thousand clients. To find out more visit www.comlink.org.au