Premier Barry OFarrell announced to the media that his Government would investigate mandatory sprinklers in both aged care and retirement villages after the Quakers Hill fire has claimed 10 dead and left approximately 30 residents in a critical state. A registered male nurse on shift has been charged for deliberately lighting two fires at about 4.00am. Victoria made sprinklers mandatory for care facilities in 2002 after a fatal fire in 1996. The cost to retrofit a care facility is between $30-40,000. The Australian Building Codes Board in 2007 investigated whether national standards allowing nursing homes to operate without sprinklers were inadequate, without a result. Villages have not been required to have sprinklers. Police checks for village staff however becomes more likely with each event.
Retirement living’s biggest moves: January to June 2025
A month-by-month breakdown of the key deals, approvals, launches and leadership changes shaping the retirement living and land lease sector in the first half of the year. JANUARY 6 Eureka Group plans $25M-$30M asset recycling of over-55s rental...