Value

This development reflects a fundamental shift in how aged care environments are delivered; rather than a traditional residential aged care facility, the project has been conceived as a contemporary senior living community, centred on independent living with integrated care support. Harbourside will transform an under-utilised site into a 60-unit independent living community through the adaptive reuse of existing buildings and targeted upgrades. The Como Apartments building is being retained and reconfigured to deliver 35 apartments, supported by new communal amenities including a wellbeing space, chapel, and administration areas. External works include the introduction of a first-floor mezzanine terrace and a rooftop terrace, enhancing both amenity and connection to the waterfront setting. The Piacenza building is also being refurbished to provide 25 upgraded apartments, with new kitchens, bathrooms and shared resident spaces that align with contemporary expectations of seniors living. At ground level, the project strengthens its interface with the public domain through the refurbishment of an existing café, including conversion of a garage into a commercial kitchen and the addition of outdoor dining, pergola and BBQ areas.

MBC Group is engaged as the Principal Certifier, responsible for administering the certification process and delivering certification for the next generation of seniors. Our role spans the full delivery phase, including:

- Construction Certificate review and determination
- Critical stage inspections
- Coordination with the design and construction team
- Issue of Occupation Certificate

Projects of this nature can sit outside conventional certification pathways. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings introduces constraints that require a considered application of NCC upgrade provisions, particularly where existing conditions do not align with current prescriptive requirements. This often necessitates a strong reliance on performance-based design and clear documentation to support certification outcomes.

Harbourside also incorporates a mix of residential, communal and ancillary uses, requiring careful consideration of building classification, fire safety measures and egress provisions across the site. In addition, the evolving seniors living model, focused on independent living with embedded care, places increased importance on how compliance is interpreted in practice, particularly in relation to occupant safety and amenity. The project highlights our capability to act as Principal Certifier on complex, adaptive reuse developments where regulatory pathways are not always straightforward. Our approach is grounded in being clear, consistent and contactable, providing certainty to clients and project teams throughout the delivery process.