Seniors need a

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
A DOWNGRADING of council support coupled with a massive increase in council rates and maintenance costs has forced a Yarra Junction retirement village into action.
The independent living units on Little Yarra Road are the only community-based village in the shire, run by volunteers, funded and owned by the community.
Volunteers told last week’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting that since 1998 there had been a downgrading of council support, coupled with a 270 per cent increase in council rates over that time.
They also said 30 per cent of the residents’ weekly maintenance cost went to council charges.
After visiting the little-known site two weeks ago, Yarra Ranges’ Mayor Terry Avery said it was a unique model and he would like to see more done to help the village.
Chairman of the volunteer-run board of management, Rick Houlihan made a submission to the council at the 26 July meeting.
He told councillors all funds raised were put towards the development of the village.
“We require action in words, we need to restore the level of reciprocation that used to take place between the old Shire of Upper Yarra and the facility,” he said.
“It was helped in every way possible by council – meeting rooms were provided, council fees were waived … we received a lot of support.”
The former Upper Yarra Shire got behind the village in 1971, which began with the building of six units. That has now expanded to 17 units.
Mr Houlihan said the previous week’s visit by Cr Avery and planning department head Andrew Paxton was the first visit from a Yarra Ranges councillor.
Mr Houlihan said they had no intention of giving the village away to a private owner, as housing for pensioners was already a problem in the Upper Yarra.
“Ninety per cent of residents who come in don’t have much, they’re already on a pension and pay a weekly fee,” he said.
“They (the residents) do so much to improve the village it makes our work worthwhile.”
Wendy Sharpley, who lives in one of the 17 units, said she felt lucky to be out of a nursing home.
“Renting on a pension, I was dead broke,” she said.
“But here we all look after the units and help each other out.”
Ms Sharpley said the village wouldn’t run as well without the volunteers.
“We’ve paid to be here for the rest of our lives, and pay a weekly maintenance cost,” she said.
“We’re all pensioners which makes a difference.”
Another resident, Bette Lewis, agreed.
“My life was too hard, paying my mortgage out of a pension,” she said.
Although councillors made suggestions to exempt particular fees for the village, council officers said the council was unable to waive statutory funds.
Cr Avery said the volunteers did a fantastic job: “I wish we had more places like that.”
He said Karinya was an important community asset, as the average working person couldn’t always afford private villages.
But he said accountability was stricter these days.
“We’re trying to work on ways where we can assist and I’m keen to assist,” he said.
“But things like fees are difficult – you pay for one and then others say ‘why not us’, and where do you draw the line?”
Cr Avery said there were simpler costs they could help with, but long-term sustainability was a concern.