Project to deliver revolutionary aged care facility

MORE than 270 jobs will be created as part of a landmark project to deliver a revolutionary new aged care facility in Mackay.

Once completed, Ozcare’s 120-bed facility, to be built by Woollam Constructions, will be one of the largest construction projects in the region in recent years, delivering 150 jobs in construction and 120 jobs during its operation.

Ozcare’s Group Manager of Construction and Property, Russell Young, said the $30million project was part of the organisation’s vision to combine residential aged care and retirement living in one site.

“Once the residential aged care facility is completed, it is planned for a retirement village to be co-located on the site. This will allow for integrated aged care,” Mr Young said.

Woollam Constructions managing director Craig Percival said the first phase of construction on the project was currently being undertaken.

“There are between 70 to 90 local tradespeople on site at the moment and that is going to peak at about 150 when the project moves into its final phase later this year,” Mr Percival said.

The jobs created during the construction phase of the project spanned a large cross-section of trades, he said, including fencing, scaffolding, crane operating, concreting, bricklaying, window glazing, painting, roofing, carpentry, tiling and landscaping, along with the use of local suppliers for the sourcing of materials.

Ozcare’s Head of Aged Care Lanna Ramsay said the new Mackay facility would be staffed with clinical and registered nurses, care assistants, chefs, cooks, kitchen hands, servery staff, cleaners, gardeners, rostering and maintenance staff.

“Our commitment is to employ as many people as we can from the local and surrounding areas,” Ms Ramsay said.

Features of the aged care facility, to be located on Lansdowne Road, in West Mackay, include:

A 120-bed facility

Two secure dementia wings (18 beds each)

Residential respite care for people needing short-term care

In-house coffee shop with children’s playground, lawn bowls/putt putt

Retirement village to be built next door (co-located for continuum of care)

Opens mid-2020