HERVEY Bay is set to welcome a life-changing housing development aimed at giving locals living with disability the freedom and independence they deserve.
With more than 11,000 Fraser Coast residents living with serious disability and limited access to specialist housing, Accessible Homes Australia (AHA) – winner of Queensland’s 2024 Telstra Business Award for Building Communities – is bringing its first regional Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) project to life right here in the Bay.
Construction is well underway on Urraween Village, a purpose-built community featuring 12 thoughtfully designed villas for NDIS participants with high-support needs.
Located in the heart of Hervey Bay, the development addresses a pressing gap in the Wide Bay region, where disability prevalence is among the highest in Queensland. According to the ABS, 10.8% of Fraser Coast residents need daily assistance with core activities – nearly double the state average.
“We’re seeing too many people in the Fraser Coast stuck in hospitals, aged care, or unsuitable housing because there simply aren’t enough SDA homes available,” said AHA Founding Director and CEO Perry Cross AM.
“The good news is there’s a funding model through the NDIS to support this – but the homes need to be there. That’s the gap we’re helping to close.”
The statistics are sobering – as of late 2022, the entire region had fewer than 100 SDA dwellings, with just 31 in Hervey Bay.
“This level of under-supply is forcing people to relocate or remain in group homes or facilities that don’t suit their needs,” Perry said.
Urraween Village will feature two-bedroom villas with voice-controlled air-conditioning, smart home automation, duress systems, accessible bathrooms and adaptable rooms for carers or guests.
Shared facilities will include a swimming pool with hoist, rehabilitation gym, sensory garden and multimedia lounge – all within flat walking distance to shops, hospitals and the Hervey Bay Rail Trail.
“This region deserves the same housing innovation seen in our major cities,” said AHA co-founder Tom Ray.
“With demand outpacing supply, we’re calling on eligible participants, or their carers, to reach out early.”
Applications for the 12 villas are now open, with completion expected in early 2026.
