Isaac Regional Council and Belyando Enterprise Network are seeking $2.993 million in funding from the Federal Government for stage 1 of a refurbishment of the 20-bed Monash Lodge in the rural town of Clermont, 274km southwest of Mackay, in northern Queensland.
“Monash Lodge is a valuable aged care facility for Clermont and wider community that was founded and only made available through the generous donations and contributions by the community,” Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said in a statement.
“The proposed project would deliver much needed independent living accommodation which would enable older regional Australians to enjoy their twilight years in their hometown.”
Belyando Enterprise Network Inc’s John Burnett said the Monash Lodge internal refurbishment will include upgrading the existing home to create 12 independent living units plus caretaker’s apartment for 24-hour onsite management.
The closest permanent aged care services in a non-hospital environment from Clermont are Emerald, about 100km away, or Mackay.
