31/08/2012 - New home suits Ozcare workers

A not-for-profit health and community care organisation is set to build a new service centre in Brisbane’s northern suburbs.  Ozcare paid $3 million for its 1905sq m development site, behind Westfield Chermside, at lot 1/75 Kittyhawk Drive.

Ozcare chief executive Brian Lenz said the organisation has outgrown its single-storey premises at 18 Kuran St, Chermside.  ‘‘With this new site we can build a new purpose office and continue our services from the Kuran St address in the meantime,’’ he said.

‘‘It was important to be in a site that could provide adequate car parking which is a huge issue for us as staff need vehicles to do their jobs.  ‘‘It was also important to have the right amenity for staff and Westfield Chermside provides that, and the site is good for our profile.’’

Ozcare is working on a development application and early plans are for one or two basement carparks for 60 to 70 vehicles and three levels of office space.  Mr Lenz said Ozcare planned to sell its Kuran St premises after the new office was built in two to three years.  ‘‘We want to get the new building done ASAP and get into it as soon as we can,’’ he said.

Last year, Carbone Developments bought the 1.5ha site for $11.367 million and subdivided into six lots, one of which Ozcare purchased.  Raine & Horne Commercial’s Trent Bruce, who struck the deal, said the site suited Ozcare.  ‘‘They were not actively in the market but one of their fellows contacted me and asked me if there were any opportunities in the area and I showed them the site,’’ he said.  ‘‘With the Westfield food court being virtually 20m across the road, the amenity is unbelievable.  ‘‘Actually Chermside is a desirable area with the amenity and transport.  ‘‘Things are ticking along here nicely. It’s taken a while but everything is going well.’’

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