Lockyer Valley’s Amaroo aged care facility at Gatton to be closed by Churches of Christ

In a move that has outraged community leaders, the organisation running a regional aged care facility has decided to shut the doors for good.

The decision to shut one of the Lockyer Valley’s only aged care facilities has been slammed by community leaders.

Churches of Christ revealed on Monday it would close its Amaroo residential aged care facility in Gatton from September 1.

The longstanding retirement village offered respite, palliative and pastoral care to residents.

In a letter to stakeholders, seniors living director Donna Hart said COC chose to close the 22-bed centre due to safety issues relating to erosion identified following the February 2022 flood event.

ON THE MOVE: Flood damage along Tenthill Creek coupled with a problematic bat colony has the Amaroo Retirement Village looking for a new home. Photo Tom Threadingham / Gatton Star

“We have identified a safety issue in this facility, which makes closure inevitable and something we cannot delay,” she wrote.

“Damage from the erosion from the nearby (Tenthill) creek has affected the structural integrity of the building deeming it unsafe.

“In meetings with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, they have confirmed the area surrounding the site is compromised and will continue to erode and further slippage can be expected.”

Ms Hart wrote that the 16 residents and nearly 20 staff at the facility would be relocated to other centres.

“We will do all that we can to make this move as smooth and stress free as possible for all involved,” she wrote.

“Resident transition will conclude by 18 August 2023.

“We will also be working closely with our staff regarding their future, including employment options at our other services.”

Member for Lockyer Jim McDonald. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Lockyer MP Jim McDonald said he had been left stunned by the move, accusing COC of failing to consider remediation of the site.

“When I questioned Churches of Christ about remediation options they just didn’t want to listen,” he said.

“This is a very important facility in our community that provides residential and palliative care.

“I can’t believe that Churches of Christ is just walking away without seeking any assistance or investing in the future of our community.

“I understand the need to ensure safety of clients and staff at the facility (but) this facility and the creek bank have withstood many major flood events.

“Why Churches of Christ have not followed the engineer’s advice to consider the remediations advice is a disgrace and I am calling on the board and executives to immediately review this decision and invest in the long-term future.”

Lockyer Valley councillor Michael Hagan. Picture: Dominic Elsome

Lockyer Valley councillor Michael Hagan said the loss of the centre was a “blow” for aged care services across the region.

He said the council had been informed of issues back in May, but was only told of the closure this week.

“They contacted us in the middle of May, they said they’d like a site meeting with some of the structural problems coming from the extreme weather systems and erosion,” he said.

“We had a look at that with them and then we were notified that they’d had a look at a structural engineer look at it and they recommended closure.

“You want people to stay in the community that they grew up in and that’s why it’s sad to see, but how do you question the experts?

“Any loss of jobs is an impact — there are often shortages in aged care, so hopefully they might not have to leave the area to find work.”

Mr Hagan said he hoped the region’s remaining centres might consider expansion to meet the shortfall in beds.

This is not the first time Tenthill Creek has proven an issue for Churches of Christ, which revealed in 2011 it was considering relocation of Amaroo due to future erosion and issues with flying foxes.