AGED care remains in crisis in the City of Kalamunda, with a new report showing the region is now more than 400 high-care beds short and demand increasing daily.
Report to Friends of Aged Care Spring Update 2017 author Iris Jones said of the seven top sites for a future aged care facility, two were now off the table.
This includes Pickering Brook and Wilkins Road after the State Governor revoked a recommendation to rezone the site.
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READ NOW“Our best chance for a new facility now remains with Hall & Prior’s Karingal Green development in High Wycombe,” she said.
“It has taken 11 years for this 160-bed proposal to progress despite the fact the land was already zoned for aged care.
“Hall & Prior expect the preferred tenderer will be appointed next month and construction will start in February 2018.”
Mrs Jones said a 120-bed facility on Gavour Road in Wattle Grove was the next best chance for a facility, but was at least two years from completion.
“This was first proposed 10 years ago and unanimously endorsed by council twice,” she said.
“In June, the State Government finally agreed for it to proceed and comprehensive plans are being drawn for lodging with the City.
“The proponent is fine-tuning plans for the nursing home to increase the number of beds given we are facing a tsunami of dementia patients.”
Mrs Jones said it was impossible to determine when other potential sites, including the Kalamunda Hospital site, Mercy Health proposal in Lesmurdie and Valencia proposal in Carmel, would come to fruition but they were still viable options.
“The fact remains aged care is still in crisis in this municipality and will be for some years to come,” she said.
“We need 435 beds by 2021 and this is just to catch up.”
Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said the delays were frustrating.
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