Tuesday 17 July 2012

THE first mounds of dirt have been shifted in the creation of the Hughenden Aged Persons Accommodation and with it signs that the 10 year community dream is becoming a reality.

Flinders Shire Council raised almost $600,000 in the decade long fight to create the $5million aged-care facility.

The new accommodation  will be an ‘‘intermediate facility’’ for residents who are not at the stage of nursing home care but can no longer live in a larger home.

There had initially been difficulty getting funding because the government’s funding bucket provided for general community housing and high-care but not in between.

After gaining support of Federal MP Bob Katter, funding of $4.4 million was announced as part of the 2011/2012 Federal Budget.

A Health and Ageing department spokeswoman said this new facility would enable older people to remain in the local area, enhancing their quality of life.

The facility will have 12 individual self-contained rental units for older people not requiring formal residential aged care, a separate two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage, a communal dining room, a recreational area with audio visual equipment and a table and chairs, a respite care suite and office building, a catering kitchen suitable for meals on wheels, landscaped gardens, undercover pathways and room for further expansion.

Flinders Shire Council Acting Mayor Ninian Stewart-Moore said this facility was an important step in the transition between independent living at home and a high care nursing home.

``My parents moved to Brisbane so that they could get a unit in a retirement village because there wasn’t a suitable place for them in Hughenden,’’ Cr Stewart-Moore said.

``This village allows for ease of movement, with everything in one place – their mates, a recreation hall, Community Care and Meals on Wheels right beside them and a bus to transport them around.

``This facility will also take a lot of pressure off other places, especially Charters Towers, which tends to take the weight of the region.’’

Flinders Shire Council received much local support in raising their $600,000 contribution.  One resident left his house and money for whatever purpose council wanted and this has gone to this project.  Another local left some money for this purpose and there were also a lot of community donations.

The project will take about eight months to build and is located at 22 Betts Street, next to the Hughenden Hospital.

Northbuild were the successful tenders and are currently in the preparation and civil works stage.  Construction  Manager Chris Caine said cement slabbing would start to go down in about two weeks with the building frame starting to become visible in a month.

The facility will be serviced by the existing Community Care program with in-home support and tenancy will based on a rental model. 

For more information contact Acting Mayor Ninian Stewart-Moore on 0414 311 516 or Flinders Shire Council Communications Officer Alexis Gillham on 47412942.