The future of aged care in the Macedon Ranges has received a major boost with a $60 million investment on the way.
Macedon Ranges Health (MRH), a not-for-profit organisation, is amalgamating with aged-care service provider Benetas after its members voted in favour of the merger last week.
Benetas has committed to investing more than $60 million in Gisborne over the next eight years.
Macedon Ranges Health chief executive Don Tidbury said the 75-bed nursing home Gisborne Oaks would be redeveloped as a new “120-plus bed, world-class, residential aged care facility”.
A “best-practice, integrated, supported living retirement village” will be built on MRH-owned land in Gisborne.
Mr Tidbury said Gisborne Oaks would be rebuilt on another part of MRH’s land, and the existing facility would then be used as the site for the retirement village.
He said the merge would be finalised in the next six months, while a $1.2 million upfront investment would be made to MRH primary care and residential aged care facilities in the short-term.
Last Tuesday more than two thirds of MRH’s members attended a meeting where the merger was approved.
“Members voted resoundingly in support, with the two resolutions [for the amalgamation] achieving 83 per cent and 81 per cent support,” Mr Tidbury said.
Long-term former MRH board member Terry Larkins was among those who voted against the change. Mr Larkins said while he accepted the democratic vote, handing the community organisation over to a corporation was “a betrayal of the hard work of the previous boards”.
Mr Larkins said the community would lose control of the almost 60 years of work invested in MRH.
“It is a giveaway – not a partnership,” he said.
Mr Tidbury confirmed Benetas would now run the organisation.
“Amalgamation is the true industry term,” he said. “Benetas ultimately will take responsibility for the operation to the organisation, while the local community retains a strong voice in the delivery of services through a community advisory committee.”
