Turning of the sod. Zauner Construction’s Ronan Pringle, Indigo North Health CEO Shane Kirk, Premier Daniel Andrews, Indigo North Health board of managemnt Jo Slattery and project director Phil Smith.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made a surprise visit to Rutherglen last week to turn sod at the development site of a new $57 million state-of-the-art aged care facility.
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While most of the community was unaware his visit to the town, the Premier remarked that “it’s always good to be in the northeast”.
“We are looking to ramp up development on what is one of the biggest, perhaps the biggest, project the Indigo Shire has ever seen,” Mr Andrews said.
“This is a really profound investment in aged care and health care in this part of Indigo Shire, a really significant boost for Rutherglen and local construction firms out of the border community.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews pictured in Rutherglen last week with Indigo North Health CEO Shane Kirk as construction ramps up on the new $57 million state-of-the-art aged care facility.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Indigo North Health and Zauner Construction, the project will create approximately 170 industry jobs during construction, with Mr Andrews confirming the new 50-bed facility is expected to be complete by mid 2025.
“We’re ensuring that older Victorians can get high-quality public aged care, when they need it, closer to home and their loved ones,” he said.
“This new facility will support the independence, privacy and dignity of residents - while providing a modern and supportive work environment for our dedicated staff.
“It’s fantastic for staff, residents and their families and a really big boost for the Rutherglen economy.
“More often than not, the health service is the largest employer in any regional town. If you support health, you not only get great outcomes for patients, but you’re also supporting lots of pay packets, lots of economic activity and you’re guaranteeing the future of regional communities like this one.”
Indigo North Health chief executive officer Shane Kirk said the new site on Main Street, purchased seven years ago, will replace the existing Glenview Community Care Nursing Home.
“Our current facility started out in 1930 and we are still working in parts of that building,” he said.
An artist impression of the front of the completed $57 million aged care facility.
“To be able to enable all of our community to access residential aged care and community health services in a state-of-the-art building is absolutely fantastic.
“Indigo North Health is absolutely thrilled to be working with Victorian Health Building Authority and Zauner Construction.”
Features of the facility include private single rooms with ensuite bathrooms, in an environment that promotes dignity and independence.
Residents will share a community room and common areas to encourage social interactions and activities between residents, families and the community. It will provide an environment that is dementia friendly and better suited to supporting mental health and the complex care needs of older Victorians.
The design of the building will also allow for a further future expansion allowing the facility to eventually accommodate 60-beds.
The new Rutherglen facility is part of the first stage of the Labor Government’s Regional and Rural Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services Revitalisation Strategy to modernise ageing facilities which are home to some of our most vulnerable older Victorians.
Mr Andrews pointed out that Victoria is the only state with public owned aged care facilities.
“One in 10 aged care beds in Victoria is publicly owned. Public sector is safer and better. Patients come first not profits.”
The Premier said he would return to Rutherglen to “celebrate a number of different milestones, and to officially open the new facility” in 2025.
“We could not be prouder to be supporting public sector aged care.”
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