Pesdev Group’s ‘Landmark’ 108-bed Gympie aged care project up for sale

The future of a ‘landmark’ 108-bed aged care centre is uncertain after the developers put the proposal up for sale. It’s the latest in a string of setbacks for the region’s aged-care industry.

the future of a proposed 108-bed aged care centre near Gympie Hospital has come under a cloud after the developers failed to sell it on the open market.

The future of a planned “landmark” 108-bed aged care next to Gympie Hospital is under a cloud after the developers failed in their bid to sell the project.

The centre was one of two developments by Pesdev Group offered up for expressions of interest in August.

A 93-bed high care centre planned for Beerwah was the second development put on the market and it was the only project sold.

Colliers International manager Baydn Dodds said the Gympie centre was “still on the market”.

“The owner is currently considering their options in relation to the site,” Mr Dodds said.

Pesdev Group has been contacted for comment.

The Gympie centre was one of two of Pesdev’s projects put on the market, joined by a 93-bed proposal at Beerwah. The Beerwah project was the only one to sell.

The centre was given the green light for development by Gympie Regional Council in February.

An expected growth in the elderly population in the area in the coming years was part of Pesdev’s application to the council.

The median age in the Gympie region had already increased from 41.8 years to 46.6 years in 2018, and aged care has been tagged as a major growth industry. 

The attempted sale of Pesdev’s project is the latest upheaval for Gympie’s aged care industry.

In August, South Australian-based company Miroma bought a proposed 100-bed Southside nursing home development for $1.1 million.

Little Haven Palliative Care CEO Sue Manton said quality aged care services remain necessary across the region.

Early this month it was announced Cooinda Aged Care would be taken over by the Lutheran Services after more than 50 years of being run by a community board.

Little Haven Palliative Care CEO Sue Manton said there remained a need for quality aged care in the region.

However, there were drawbacks to these services making at-home care a more attractive option.

“If there’s any kind of outbreak, (they) get locked down,” Ms Manton said.

“It’s very difficult.”

This in turn put a big focus on home-based services and was “putting a lot of pressure on our service”.

“Good quality aged care centres are necessary,” she said.