Retirement
Planning systems under scrutiny as Australia's ageing population grows
Retirement
Planning systems under scrutiny as Australia's ageing population grows
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has called for governments to address planning system shortfalls in preparation for Australia's ageing population, following the release of new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Planning systems under scrutiny as Australia's ageing population grows
The Retirement Living Council (RLC) has called for governments to address planning system shortfalls in preparation for Australia's ageing population, following the release of new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The latest ABS figures reveal that Australians aged 75-79 are the fastest-growing demographic, with an annual growth rate of 6.55 per cent, significantly outpacing the average overall population growth rate of 2.46 per cent.
RLC Executive Director Daniel Gannon said: "With an annual growth rate of 6.55 per cent, the 75–79-year-old age group significantly out paces all other demographics with an average overall growth rate of 2.46 per cent."
Gannon highlighted that retirement village operators face significant barriers in developing age-friendly communities, with 67 per cent of development applications taking more than a year to complete assessment, and 23 per cent taking over two years.
"More red tape and complexity in planning systems won't help build the homes required to appropriately accommodate the demographic 'silver tsunami' we are facing," Gannon said.
The RLC cited research showing that retirement village residents experience improved health and social outcomes, including being 41 per cent happier and 19 per cent less likely to require hospitalisation after nine months.
Gannon added: "As a consequence, these communities are minimising the interactions older Australians have with GPs and hospitals, while importantly delaying entry into taxpayer funded aged care and saving the government $945 million annually as a result."
The RLC has proposed several policy recommendations to streamline planning systems, including establishing minimum land allocations for retirement communities in under-supplied areas and offering development bonuses to incentivise retirement village construction.
The council also suggested that state governments introduce targets for age-friendly developments in strategic regional and metropolitan plans.
These recommendations come as the RLC aims to address what it sees as a critical need for more age-appropriate housing options in light of Australia's rapidly ageing population.
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