Not For Profit to build two new retirement units at regional QLD public housing community – 20-plus on waiting list

Two new independent living units are being built at The Laurels, a public community housing project for seniors living in South Burnett, around two hours’ drive northwest of Brisbane.

Wondai and District Living Units for the Aged currently operates 20 one-bedroom units at the site, which was built over 40 years ago to address a lack of housing options for the region’s seniors.

The two new units are being built in honour of a former resident, who left the Not For Profit with a sizeable contribution when they passed away.

The new units will still not be enough to meet demand however, with Wondai president Winston Burrow saying The Laurels always has a waiting list of 20 to 25 people at any given time.

“We really look after the residents, they just pay rent and really look after themselves, which for a lot of them is the highlight,” he said.