Units On Offer For Elderly

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday February 12, 2008

By JACQUI JONES

ANGLICAN Care hopes to meet what it believes is a gap in aged care services in inner-city Newcastle with a $10 million development at Merewether.

The non-profit organisation is seeking approval from Newcastle City Council and is gauging interest from prospective residents.

It plans to demolish a former 42-bed lodge on Scenic Drive and replace it with a two-storey building comprising 20 units upstairs and 35 units downstairs for frail residents.

The site boasts panoramic views to Stockton and Dudley and overlooks Glenrock Reserve.

There would be a 15-metre buffer zone between the building and the reserve.

A cinema, alfresco dining area, library, and space for a hairdresser and beautician are included in the proposed development.

Anglican Care chief executive Denis Byron said yesterday Newcastle was particularly under serviced in residential aged care.

"There's been closures of a number of services in the Newcastle area," he said.

"We're concerned about the provision of aged care services in inner-city Newcastle."

Mr Byron said prospective residents were invited to an information session at St Augustine's parish hall, Winsor Street, Merewether, on February 19, from 10am.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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