Construction of Gosnells nursing home to start soon

18/11/93

Construction is expected to begin this month on a new $3.3 million, 40-bed nursing home at Gosnells.

The State Government, through the Western Australian Health Department, will contribute $1 million towards the capital costs of the nursing home which will be built in Lissiman Street, as part of the Amaroo Retirement Village complex.

The balance will be funded by the Gosnells City Council, through its Commonwealth employment-generating local capital works program, as well as funds from the State Lotteries Commission and the Amaroo Foundation and Retirement Village.

Mr Foss said the nursing home project would resolve a long-term need for residential aged care services in the Gosnells area.

"This will be Gosnells' first nursing home facility, even though it is estimated that there are nearly 3,000 residents over the age of 70 amongst the city's population of 75,000," he said.

"Unfortunately, because of the lack of nursing home facilities in the area, many elderly residents needing care have been forced to leave the district.

"This has obviously caused distress amongst long-term Gosnells residents and visiting inconvenience to their families - but hopefully the new nursing home will alleviate some of these problems.

"Apart from this vital new facility, an estimated 40 per cent of the $3.3 million will be used on wages and salaries for contractor employees during the construction phase.

"The nursing home should be completed by August next year and it is expected that at least 45 permanent full and part-time positions will be created.

"In addition, money spent on consumables at the nursing home should in due course inject an additional $100,000 into the locality each year."

The nursing home's recurrent costs will be met by the Federal Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services.

Since its inception in 1969, Amaroo has developed 192 independent living cottage units and a 61-place, frail aged hostel.

Its future plans include additional cottage units and hostel places and involvement in other community and domicillary aged care services.

Mr Foss said the aged care facilities developed at Gosnells bore testimony to the vision and commitment of many people in the local community.

He said the new nursing home project also showed what could be achieved when local people identified community needs and took the initiative to seek the necessary facilities and services.

Media contact:  Jeanne Klener (09) 222 9595 / 325 8655