{"id":253432,"date":"2020-02-21T19:04:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-21T09:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=253432"},"modified":"2020-07-12T17:37:28","modified_gmt":"2020-07-12T07:37:28","slug":"blackbutt-housing-haven-expands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/02\/21\/blackbutt-housing-haven-expands\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackbutt Housing Haven Expands"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
A new duplex of two-bedroom units has doubled the capacity of the Scott Haven complex in Blackbutt … it is the first new community accommodation built in the town in 42 years<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 21, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blackbutt retirees looking to downsize have a new option available to them, thanks to the Blackbutt and Benarkin Aged Care Association (BBACA).<\/p>\n

BBACA recently opened a pair of two-bedroom independent living units at their Scott Haven Complex.<\/p>\n

One of them is already tenanted, and the other is expected to have a new tenant soon.<\/p>\n

The new units were built thanks to a $204,740 grant from the Federal Government, coupled with a matching contribution from BBACA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

BBACA sprang into existence in the early 2000s when locals realised there were very few accommodation options in the Timber Towns for retirees.<\/p>\n

Scott Haven was built in 1978 as a joint project between the former Nanango Shire Council, Queensland Health and the former Department of Social Security.<\/p>\n

But during the past 42 years \u2013 during which time Blackbutt\u2019s population has almost tripled \u2013 no extra independent living options for Timbertowns residents has been built.<\/p>\n

BBACA took over the day-to-day operation of the Scott Haven Complex from the South Burnett Regional Council in 2008, and entered into a 30-year lease with Council in 2012.<\/p>\n

This led to a series of community fundraising drives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the years, these campaigns allowed BBACA upgrade the Scott Haven Units at 49 Hart Street; buy a house block next door at 47 Hart Street which can one day be used for additional units; and buy a separate block of land in Greenhills Drive which has been set aside for a future aged care facility.<\/p>\n

However, the group had always harboured the idea of expanding Scott Haven – which has four single-bedroom units – to include double-bedroom units as well.<\/p>\n

The group were awarded a $204,740 grant from the Building Better Regions Fund in July 2017 to build two two-bedroom units at Scott Haven on the proviso BBACA raise a matching or higher amount to meet the estimated $421,500 total cost of the project.<\/p>\n

In the 18 months following that funding announcement \u2013 thanks to fundraising drives, donations and funds it had already set aside itself \u2013 the group put together almost $167,000.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But by January last year they were still $50,000 short of their goal, and this meant they were at risk of losing the grant if they didn’t finalise their funding by July.<\/p>\n

BBACA put out another call to the Blackbutt community and were able to raise a large slice of the money they needed from the generosity of local residents.<\/p>\n

But by June they were still short of their target until Bendigo Bank stepped in with an offer of a loan for the balance.<\/p>\n

BBACA chairperson Jeff Connor said Bendigo’s willingness to finance the funding gap finally gave the project the go-ahead, and construction began.<\/p>\n

The two new units were unveiled recently, and the first tenant was ready to move in soon after that.<\/p>\n

Jeff said the contract to build the duplex had been awarded to local builders Ian and Cathy Gilliland, and they had done a first-rate job.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Ian and Cathy really took ownership of this project,” Jeff said.<\/p>\n

“They came up with all sorts of improvements on our original plans and the quality of their work was just outstanding.”<\/p>\n

The South Burnett Regional Council was also very helpful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The units are built at on vacant land at the rear of the existing Scott Haven complex, which stretches over a double block between Hart and John streets.<\/p>\n

“Council had to extend the existing sewer and water lines and we had to get electricity into the property, too,” Jeff said.<\/p>\n

“That would be a bit difficult at any time but because the block was on two titles it was extra difficult.<\/p>\n

“However Council took care of all the details and really helped get the infrastructure parts of this project going, and we can’t thank them enough for their help.”<\/p>\n

Jeff also paid tribute to fellow BBACA members Emeric Charles – better known as Blackbutt’s postmaster – and Roz Marden.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emeric and Roz handled the myriad complexities that come with any big building project, along with reporting back to the Federal Government on the building’s progress.<\/p>\n

“Blackbutt is very lucky to have two people like this on BBACA’s committee, because I doubt this could have been achieved without them,” Jeff said.<\/p>\n

At the moment the grounds around the new units are bare.<\/p>\n

Jeff said BBACA plans to landscape them and have hired Nellie Bannah to do the work.<\/p>\n

They also plan to install a communal herb garden to help separate the single units from the duplexes without destroying the block’s sense of community.<\/p>\n

But after the recent drought, then rains and high humidity, late summer did not seem an ideal time to lay turf and put in shrubbery.<\/p>\n

“We’ll do this when the weather is better, but we’re certain it will look great once it’s done,” Jeff said.<\/p>\n

The next project?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeff said once the Bendigo Bank loan was acquitted, BBACA plans to build a matching pair of units on the remainder of the block at the John Street end.<\/p>\n

“We already have the pad area ready and the underground infrastructure in place, so the second duplex will be a bit cheaper than the first one … or maybe the same if it takes us as many years to get the funding together,” he said.<\/p>\n

“But our aim is to have four single-bedroom units and four double-bedroom units in Scott Haven, and we’ll keep plugging away until we achieve that.”<\/p>\n

The new units will be officially opened by Senator James McGrath and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington at 9:00am on Monday, April 6.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Members of the public are very welcome to attend the event.<\/p>\n

\"\"
BBACA chairperson Jeff Connor said the group is delighted with the outcome of the project, which has required several years work and community support to come to fruition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The new duplex sits at the rear of the Scott Haven block and is accessed from John Street … eventually BBACA hope to separate the two blocks with a community herb garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Blackbutt retirees looking to downsize have a new option available to them, thanks to the Blackbutt and Benarkin Aged Care Association <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":253443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,3],"tags":[83],"yoast_head":"\nBlackbutt Housing Haven Expands - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Blackbutt retirees looking to downsize have a new option available to them, thanks to the Blackbutt and Benarkin Aged Care Association\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/02\/21\/blackbutt-housing-haven-expands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Blackbutt Housing Haven Expands - 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