BCS’s largest development

Care provider, Baptist Community Services (BCS) – NSW & ACT, has unveiled its largest development in its 69 year history.

The New South Wales independent living development – The Gracewood Community Kellyville – was officially opened by Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke yesterday.

Mr Hawke was joined by Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne of the Hills Shire Council and State Member for Baulkham Hills David Elliott MP.

Offering seniors independent and assisted living, the development comprises 73 modern one, two and three bedroom apartments, a pool, a gym, medical consulting rooms, a dining area, multipurpose room, library, business centre and coffee shop.

A BCS Care Centre, providing in home care services to the Hills district, will also begin operating within The Gracewood Community this month, while a community centre offering respite services will commence in July.

“These care service offerings are a key feature of the service delivery model that BCS is offering at The Gracewood Community. It is about providing choices and a continuum of care that allows people to access the services they require as they age,” Ross Low, BCS chief executive, said.

“The residents here have the flexibility to choose from a suite of in home services, to access care in their home and when the time comes, to enter into a residential aged care facility,” he said.

The independent living apartments encompass agefriendly features including easy open drawers, waist level power points and the latest emergency monitoring technology. Every apartment employs smart environmental and energy saving ideas and materials, including recycled water from the Rouse Hill Water Recycling Plant and harvesting rain water for landscaping.

The  apartments have been arranged to best utilise the natural environment, resulting in a high level of amenity. All apartments have either district or site landscape views with large balconies and terraces integrating indoor and outdoor living areas and providing a strong connection with the external open space.

Architecture is based on the local climate and the building forms are a reverse veneer construction with thermal mass walls being located internally and screened by a lightweight cladding.

Double glazing to the apartments, the use of sun shades and high levels of thermal insulation in roof and wall construction all maximise efficiency in the use of solar access and prevailing breezes for natural cooling and heating.

Each cluster of the development has been named after NSW state forests, including Dorrigo, Mimosa and Bindarri. These forests are depicted throughout the development in various photos and pieces of art.

BCS has ensured the natural environment including the Cumberland Forest has been retained throughout the development, while also creating open spaces, walking paths and beautiful gardens for residents to enjoy.

The Gracewood Community is owned and managed by BCS, a leading notforprofit Christian care organisation that has been serving the aged and people living with disadvantage for the past 69 years.