Juniper to help ease housing squeeze in Katanning

New long-term accommodation being built in Katanning is set to help ease the challenges of Juniper aged care staff finding local housing.

Taking shape on land owned by Juniper, the new staff housing will be located adjacent to the existing 26-room Juniper Bethshan Residential Aged Care Home, as pictured above.

An investment in the Great Southern, the project will help Juniper attract and retain a stable workforce and just as importantly, support a continuity of care to Juniper customers. With low vacancy rates, Katanning has a critical shortage of rental accommodation available to those living and working in areas such as health, education, and agriculture.

This ultimately increases the need for long-distance commuting and the pressures for workers to find temporary living arrangements, as demand continues to outstrip supply.

According to Realestate.com, the median rent for housing in Katanning is $400 per week, representing a 14 per cent increase in the past year. In early August 2025, just five properties were available via the website, with rents ranging from $450 to $800 per week.

Your Investment Property magazine has indicated that housing growth in Katanning reached just 7.73% in the past 12 months and 0.0 per cent in the past quarter.

The new Juniper build in Katanning by Great Southern and Perth-based builder Bilco Group will start construction of the six modular homes – each with two bedrooms – later this year. The builder has committed to engaging local subcontractors wherever possible. The project is expected to reach completion in late 2026.

A partly prefabricated modular construction, the design of the new homes will incorporate low-maintenance materials and integrated solar panels, making it an energy-efficient development.

The finished homes will draw inspiration from both the nearby Juniper Bethshan Residential Aged Care Home and the surrounding neighbourhood.

Part-funded by Juniper and the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program this project follows the recent announcement of new permanent accommodation being built in Fitzroy Crossing and forms part of a broader Juniper program to offer housing to regional staff.