Community pressures leads to Kiama Council backflipping on Blue Haven sell off
Kiama councillors have stepped back from their two-week old decision to sell off the debt-ridden Blue Haven aged care operation. Read what the council have opted to do.
Illawarra Star
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​Dozens of Kiama locals crowded around the council chambers ahead of a closed extraordinary meeting on Monday night regarding the sale of the town’s Blue Haven aged care facility.
Earlier this month, seven of nine councillors voted to sell off the cash-bleeding operation before councillor Karen Renkema-Lang, who was one of the seven, lodged a rescission motion within 24 hours backtracking from her stance.
Former Kiama mayor Sandra McCarthy and Stuart Geddes from the United Services Union spoke to councillors during public access before the meeting with Mrs McCarthy of the mind that the public should have been consulted about the decision because “everyone in Kiama is connected to Blue Haven”.
“In support of good governance, I asked that a fully audited financial report be made for review prior to the sale of any asset,” Mrs McCarthy said.
“[I ask for] the sale of the Akuna Street vacant site to be considered as a priority because at the moment it is surplus to council needs whereas Blue Haven currently provides a valuable service.
“The new federal government has given a strong commitment to increase aged care funding and to restore respect, dignity and security to the sector – this is an opportunity for Blue Haven.”
Mr Geddes said selling off Blue Haven would be a move towards privatization and was “part of a fire sale”.
“A confidential session without basic community consultation not only does the council a disservice but the broader community as a whole,” he said.
Greens councillors Kathy Rice and Jodi Keast who initially opposed the sell off voted for the rescission along with Cr Renkema-Lang and Labor duo councillors Stuart Larkins and Imogen Draisma.
The rescinded motion was replaced with a wordy motion committing to greater consultation with the community about the future of the asset and for the council to reach out to the federal and state government for potential financial assistance available to aged care providers.
“This is an extremely difficult and complex matter,” Mayor Neil Reilly said.
“While the proposed sale of Blue Haven is a key strategy in getting our finances back on track, we are also balancing the views of residents and other stakeholders.”
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