BY JIM GAINSFORD St George Leader
14 Jun, 2012 05:16 PM
CONTRACTS were exchanged last week for the construction of a $31 million aged care and health services development within Engadine commercial centre.
The exchange between Sutherland Shire Council and Moran Health Care Group marks stage two of the Engadine Community Facilities Project, following a more than 10-year community process.
Stage one resulted in the construction of Engadine multi-purpose hall and offices for Engadine Community Services, a plaza and war memorial.
Stage two will see the extension of the existing town square to Caldarra Avenue, construction of ground floor health services building and aged care centre for more than 135 people.
A new underground public car park will replace the existing 45 car parking spaces on site and another 14 visitor spaces will be available for public use.
Parking will be provided for aged care and health services employees.
Sutherland Shire councillor Jan Forshaw, who worked on the project for more than 10 years, said the new care centre would complete the revitalisation of Engadine shopping centre.
"It has been important to provide aged care in Engadine so people can stay in the area close to their families," she said.
"This will help support businesses at Engadine."
Sutherland Shire mayor Carol Provan said that as well as revitalising the area, it would provide a new source of employment.
"The provision of aged care is a growing necessity in the shire and council needs to ensure we are doing everything we can to encourage more custom-built facilities which offer all the requirements of our ageing residents, such as ease of access to shops and health care services," she said.
Peter Moran, of Moran Health Care Group, said the company was proud to work with the council on a project that could change the way communities saw aged care now and into the future.
Apart from the new infrastructure at Engadine, the council will receive $2 million to offset the construction cost of stage one works.
Opinion
Three big questions the Budget must answer for aged care sector executives to move forward. Time for bravery?
With the Federal Budget now just 12 days away, there remains several unanswered questions that are weighing on boards and executives across the aged care sector. Despite the Aged Care Taskforce, chaired by the Aged Care Minister Anika Wells, handing...
