Aged care boost for Ballina Crowley

RE-DEVELOPMENT is set to start on Ballina’s Crowley Care Services which will see an extra 32 residential aged care beds added to the senior care centre.

MP Kevin Hogan announces major renovations at the Crowley Care Services iin Ballina as part of a federal funding contribution. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

RE-DEVELOPMENT is set to start on Ballina's Crowley Care Services which will see an extra 32 residential aged care beds added to the senior care centre.

It's hoped the additional beds will help alleviated waiting lists and shortages for aged care facilities in the region, which has one of the highest retiree populations in the state.

Crowley Board Chairman Steve Barnier said the $15 million redevelopment was only possible due to Federal Government funding of 32 residential aged care beds and a $2.64 million low interest loan.

"The beds are critical," he said.

"For our independent living units for example, we have in excess of 100 people on the waiting list."

Mr Crowley said the aim of the redevelopment was to help cater to the region's growing need for more residential aged care accommodation and add to the experience of existing residents.

"This year, as we know, is a census year, and we believe that will confirm Crowley's view that the region is getting older, more people are moving to our region at older ages and that's going to compound our need for additional services," he said,

"Crowley is contributing substantial funds but we couldn't have got it out of the ground without that initial support for beds and the finances that have been available."

Mr Barnier said tenders were currently out for work on the $15 million redevelopment which was recently approved by Ballina Council.

He said the organisation was looking to get construction underway within a few weeks, with an 18-month timeframe for completion.

Page MP Kevin Hogan said the additional 32 beds equated to about $2 million in Federal Government funding for Crowley Care Services per year.

"We fund the beds so we make sure there's a business case for the aged care provider to know that the Federal Government is going to give them money each year for the amount of people they have here, and therefore it makes the infrastructure investment for them a viable business case."

Mr Hogan said the project would also help to boost jobs in the region in construction, aged care and related services like gardening, cleaning and hospitality.

Research from Regional Development Australia found the Far North Coast was above the state average for senior citizens, with 27% of residents over 60, compared to the NSW state average of 20%.

The development will feature:

• A new two-storey 42 room Residential Care Facility and two-storey education centre with library and meeting rooms

• A new main entrance and administration centre with community plaza that connects to a high-street style café
• A redeveloped entertainment area in the existing Residential Care Facility

• A new larger non-denominational chapel