City invites proposals for a new operator for Collier Park Village

Council endorsed the recommendation to commence the ‘Request for Proposal’ (RfP) process at the Council Meeting on Tuesday, 28 March 2023.

The City has owned and operated CPV for over 30 years, offering independent living units to people aged 55 years and over. During that time, the needs of Australians in retirement living have changed significantly with people living for longer and with more complex health needs.

CPV residents currently have limited options when their care needs increase and are often required to move to higher care facilities elsewhere.

To provide the right mix of accommodation and services to deliver contemporary standards of retirement living, a high level of expertise and capital investment is needed.

For the City to upgrade the CPV units to improve their amenity, meet current accessibility standards (such as wider doorways and improvements to bathrooms) and enable greater care supports to be provided in the home, significant capital investment from the City is required. The City does not have the expertise and financial capacity to make substantial improvements to CPV.

It is envisaged that a new operator with extensive experience in retirement living will improve Collier Park Village for current and future residents and ensure the long-term viability of the Village.

Prospective retirement village operators will be invited to submit proposals that respond to evaluation criteria which have been designed to ensure the best outcome for current and future residents.

Evaluation criteria include:

• Organisational reputation and alignment with City of South Perth priorities
• Proven track record in completing similar transactions and redevelopments
• Demonstrated commitment and plans to protect residents’ rights
• Financial capacity.

Any bid price (financial offer) received from interested operators will be considered separately from the qualitative criteria.

Submissions will be evaluated, and a report and recommendation are expected to be presented to Council around July/August 2023.

Council has the discretion to accept or reject any of the proposals received.

City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner said there will be no changes to the operations of CPV in the short-term and residents will continue to receive the same level of service from the City.

“The needs and the care of Collier Park Village residents are at the forefront of the City’s and Council’s decision making,” City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner said.

“The Request for Proposal process enables the City to draw on the expertise of experienced retirement village operators to improve the facilities and services at Collier Park Village.”

The Retirement Villages Act 1992 (WA) offers several protections for ‘Lease for Life’ residents and these residents are entitled to stay in their current units regardless of who operates CPV. Should a suitable operator be appointed through the RfP process, a 12 month ‘Deed of Variation’ will be offered to all residents with short-term leases from the date the City signs the contract with the new operator. No resident will be required to move while the ‘Deed of Variation’ is current. These arrangements will be legally binding.

The RfP process includes safeguards to ensure that residents’ long-term needs are addressed, and that residents’ rights are protected. The City and Council will ensure that any potential new operator shares the City’s vision for Collier Park Village.

To assist residents in the coming months, the City will recommend to Council that there will be no increase in rents, fees or charges in the coming budget (effective October 2023).

To find out more visit the Collier Park Village Frequently Asked Questions page on the City’s website.