Minister for Disability Services Annastacia Palaszczuk with Tony Lanigan at the Anden House - supported accommodation bought by the State Government.

Kevin Farmer

TONY Lanigan's five-year fight for better supported accommodation in Toowoomba received almost a $1 million boost yesterday.

Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Toowoomba to announce the purchase of a new accommodation property.

Anden, a former bed and breakfast, will provide greater supported accommodation options for ageing carers of people with a disability in Toowoomba.

The North Street property was bought for $730,000 and the lease on a set of units across the road was also secured.

Mr Lanigan is president of the Toowoomba Intellectual Disability Support Association, which has pushed for new supported accommodation options for more than five years.

“It's terrific that the department has bitten this fairly expensive bullet,” he said.

“This is desperately needed in Toowoomba.

“We could fill this place five times over today, but this is very much a start.”

Anden will provide six people with a disability with their own bedroom and ensuite.

Minister Palaszczuk said the house should become operational “within a couple of months”.

“I'm so impressed,” she said.

“If we could have this type of accommodation everywhere across Queensland that would be fantastic.”

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said the new apartments would provide residents with easy access to local services, hospital and transport.