Calls are ramping up for the Victorian Government to help fund the redevelopment of the outdated Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge north of Shepparton.
The 46-year-old home, which has 34 permanent beds plus two respite care beds and two transitional care beds, reached end-of-life in 2009 and has yet to be updated; homes with fewer than 40 beds are generally not considered viable without Government support.
Advocates say that rooms and corridors in the home are too small and narrow; the building lacks communal areas or specialised dementia care units; best-practice infection prevention and control is impossible; and residents are unable to comfortably age in place.
Speaking to the Shepparton News, Tricia Quibell (pictured), chair-elect of the board of provider NCN Health, said that while the initial estimated cost of the redevelopment was around $17.39 million in 2020, that estimate has since ballooned to more than $20 million and rising.
She added that, while the community has already raised money for the project, help is needed from the S
tate Government.
“These are members of our local community that have lived in our community, they’ve built business and contributed to our region, they need somewhere they can go for care.
“The least we can do is provide them with a high-quality, fit-for-purpose facility,” she said.
Wendy Lovell, state MP for Northern Victoria, earlier this year called on then-Health Minister Martin Foley to fund the redevelopment; The Weekly SOURCE has contacted current Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas for comment.
