Contractor appointed for Casa Mia upgrade, opening date revealed
The end of a lengthy saga is seemingly in sight as a forcibly closed aged care home will soon have a new lease on life. Here’s when it’s expected to open.
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A lengthy saga which started when an aged care facility in Southern Queensland shut its door has come to an end, with a resolution seemingly in sight.
Goondiwindi Regional Council confirmed this month the appointment of the successful contractor for the refurbishment of the Casa Mia site in Inglewood.
ICM Constructions was the successful tenderer for the $2.26m project, with no local Goondiwindi Region builders submitting.
The site closed its doors in 2020.
The construction phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, with applications for tenancy anticipated to open in early 2025, with council saying it will prioritise “vulnerable persons”.
Goondiwindi Regional Council mayor Lawrence Springborg AM has extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Inglewood Aged Care Steering Committee for their pivotal role in this journey, which commenced approximately three years ago.
“Their commitment initially was to either persuade the Churches of Christ to reconsider their withdrawal from the Casa Mia site or to attract another aged care operator into the facility,” Mr Springborg said.
“Throughout this process, it became clear to the committee that the funding model and regulatory demands of the aged care industry were not viable for this site. In addition, the community is fortunate that the Inglewood Hospital now has beds for high-care long-term patients, providing a much-needed local solution for this type of care, something that wasn’t available when Casa Mia was first established.
“Once aged care was removed as a viable option, there was a consideration that council may play a more hands-on role in the solution.”
The 11-bed facility had served the community since 1995 before its closure in 2020.
Goondiwindi Regional Council released the tender documentation in May for builders to submit a price to refurbish the Casa Mia site into five independent living units.
The refurbishment itself will cost $2.26m, the Queensland government has committed $1.5m, and council will contribute the remaining funds.
“This project is a very big investment for council in an area that is non-core business, but council’s decision to pursue this solution was based on council’s ability to recover costs to limit the burden on ratepayers,” Mr Springborg said.
“The entire footprint of the land we have secured is 2.237ha, which provides the opportunity for council to explore additional income options to recoup the costs.
“I thank all the steering committee and community members involved over the three years; your passion, efforts and patience have contributed enormously to the project’s success. I look forward to showcasing the refurbished Casa Mia to locals soon.”
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Originally published as Contractor appointed for Casa Mia upgrade, opening date revealed
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