More aged care beds could be on the way for North Adelaide, with a major Helping Hand Aged Care expansion becoming the first project in South Australia to be supported as “essential infrastructure” under the state’s development assessment framework.
The proposed expansion at Helping Hand’s existing North Adelaide facility would deliver more than 160 additional aged care beds across staged works, with the first stage expected to be completed by the end of 2029, subject to Crown development approval from the Minister for Planning.
The move marks the first time an aged care project has been backed under new South Australian planning provisions introduced in 2025, which allow aged care facilities to be formally classified as essential infrastructure. The change is designed to recognise the critical role aged care plays in the community, particularly as hospitals continue to face pressure from older patients who are clinically ready to leave but have nowhere appropriate to go.
There are currently more than 350 older South Australians stuck in metro hospitals and other SA Health sites, ready for discharge but waiting for a Federal Government aged care bed.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Blair Boyer said, “Our reforms are already making a difference – fast-tracking projects like this that will deliver the aged care beds our community needs.”
“By recognising aged care as essential infrastructure, we’re ensuring more South Australians can access the right care in the right setting.”
“This project is exactly the kind of investment these reforms were designed to support.”
“Aged care is essential infrastructure, and we need more of it.”
“This streamlined process will support projects to get off the ground more quickly.”
“Helping Hand’s project aims to deliver more than 160 additional aged care beds – a significant increase – and has rightly been assigned as essential infrastructure.”
Under the pathway, projects deemed essential infrastructure and sponsored by the Department for Health and Wellbeing are assessed through the Crown Development process, with final approval granted by the Minister for Planning. The State Government says the pathway provides a more streamlined process while maintaining rigorous planning assessment standards.
Helping Hand Aged Care Chief Executive Officer Chris Stewart said, “We welcome the leadership shown by the South Australian Government in recognising aged care as essential infrastructure.”
“As the only residential aged care provider in the City of Adelaide, we are proud to deliver a project that will ease pressure on our hospitals, as some of our most vulnerable community members transition into the care environments they deserve.”
“At its heart, our proposal is about ensuring older South Australians can access care and support and remain within their community.”
“We look forward to engaging with our local stakeholders as we work through the planning process and bring this project to life, for the benefit of older South Australians and their families to access much needed aged care accommodation.”
Retirement Living Council Executive Director Daniel Gannon said, “This is exactly the kind of project these reforms were meant to unlock.”
“We argued for retirement living and aged care to be recognised as essential infrastructure because the previous system was too slow for the scale of demand we face for age-friendly homes.”
“When the right projects move faster, older South Australians benefit and pressure on hospitals can start to ease.”
“This is an important early signal that the pathway is working as intended, and that it can support more investment in the retirement living and aged care projects South Australia needs.”
Helping Hand will now submit a formal planning application to the Minister for Planning.
