The sod has been turned and the keys handed over marking the official opening of the second phase of Ulladulla’s Jindelara Cottages.
The Lions Ulladulla District Community Foundation with the support of Apex, Rotary and the local community has provided a vital respite facility for people with disabilities and their families on the South Coast since 2018.
With the recent $2.3 million expansion, Jindelara Cottage now provides seven permanent residential assisted living units, along with respite accommodation for two families.
Today (Saturday) Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips, State Member for South Coast Liza Butler and Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White handed the keys over to service provider Yumara and new residents, including Scotty Norris, Elizabeth Evley and Jan Munday.
Lions Ulladulla and Districts Community Foundation projects facilitator Graham Sweet said the new homes, located in Nurrawallee Street Ulladulla, were purpose-built to ensure the most vulnerable people in our community can continue to live locally with the support they need.
“The expanded Jindelara – now Jindelara Cottages – has had a lot of thought put into it and should be able to give the best of care for a great variety of disability and in many ways is a model for others to copy,” Mr Sweet said.
“Jindelara Cottages are long overdue and the need in our area is only growing. This is fed by a very rapidly rising population, the pull factor of the new Budawang School for the disabled and a rapidly aging local disability accommodation stock.”
Mrs Phillips said she was proud to have delivered $800,000 funding from the Albanese Government for such an important, community-led project.
“When you walk through the front door, you’re met with light-filled open plan apartments, specially designed to become beautiful permanent homes for people with disability,” she said.
“I know how vital this accommodation is and it’s just incredible to see the community’s dream become a reality.
“The story of Jindelara is one that so many people in our local community can be proud of. It is the ultimate story of love, sacrifice, determination and volunteerism.
“I am amazed by this community, including the Lions Pre-Loved Book Store that has raised more than $1 million for the project.
“A huge thanks to all those involved for more than a decade and to the local designers, builders and tradies that have worked so hard to create such a really special space.”
Shoalhaven City Council sold the land alongside the existing Jindelara Cottage for the mere sum of one dollar to allow stage two to progress.
Mayor White said Jindelara shows what’s possible when local families, community groups, and all levels of government come together with a shared purpose.
“Council is proud of the contribution of land, services and planning we could make to bring phase two of Jindelara to life and to ensure our community has the quality disability support facilities it needs and deserves,” she said.
“These expanded facilities mean more families can access respite and accommodation close to home, reducing stress and strengthening community connection.
“I would especially like to thank Ulladulla Milton Lions Club for their work, funding and volunteers who have made this project happen.”
Mr Sweet said the Royal Commission into housing for the disabled “rewrote the book on how the disabled should be accommodated in our society”.
“In the Ulladulla area there was nothing that completely satisfied these standards – we think that Jindelara Cottages will do so,” he said.
“Most of the features are unseen such as the over five kilometres of cables in the walls of the new larger building and the structural and cladding reinforcements in the walls to cope with disability equipment and grab rails.
“The main feature is the location, size and build of the Jindelara Cottages that will give the residents as close to a ‘normal’ life as possible. It’s a medium size build in a suburban street close to the required facilities.
“The whole site is wheelchair friendly and kitchens and bathrooms can cope with a whole range of abilities. A lot of thought has also been put into making the buildings as maintenance free as possible.”
Mr Sweet said community support for the project had been immense across the board, from Interlok builders, the designer and project manager EcoView, to the Lions Pre-Loved Book Shop, local licenced clubs, The Entertainers and Yumaro.
A last-minute flurry of donations was received to help get the project over the line, including a timely $100,000 donation from the Snow Foundation on Thursday.
“We have also had great support from all levels of government – local, state and commonwealth and this has been completely apolitical.”
Ms Butler said she was delighted to witness the excitement on the faces of the new residents and to see the doors open on this wonderful new facility.
“This project will help ensure people with disability on the South Coast can continue to live locally, surrounded by their community, with the support they need to thrive.”
Ms Butler said the Minns Labor Government was proud to support the project through the Community Building Partnership program.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to Jindelara over many years, and our partners at Yumaro who will now help bring these new facilities to life for the community,” she added.
