Mayor Gary Rush said while plans had yet to be finalised, he was able to confirm that council had included a $1.5 million line item in the 2016-17 budget for the new building.

“How this funding will be expended is to be formalised in coming months, with several options open to council,” Cr Rush said.

“Among them is for council to take the role of project developer and construct a purpose-built building and seek a long-term tenant – that is, Meals on Wheels – to provide the facility with a new, state-of the-art-home.”

Cr Rush described Meals on Wheels as a valuable community service that helps many frail and elderly people remain in their own homes.

“Council’s funding commitment will help ensure the future viability of the service and ensure this vital service continues long into the future,” he said.

Bathurst Meals on Wheels is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation providing quality, nutritious meals to frail older people and people with a disability and their carers to enable them to live independently. 

It utilises the resources of a pool of volunteers to deliver meals and to provide clients with social contact.

It was established in Bathurst in August 1964, when a meeting was held at the Bathurst Civic Centre for the purpose of launching a Meals on Wheels service in the region. 

The service was formed and on November 15, 1964, the first hot meals were delivered by two volunteers to eight elderly residents of Bathurst. 

At Meals on Wheels’ first AGM in 1965 it was reported that 2783 hot meals had been delivered to 30 residents and that 16 residents were receiving meals.

The meals were prepared at no extra cost by staff at Macquarie Homes for the Aged for a cost of two shillings and sixpence a meal. 

Bathurst Rotary continued to underwrite the project and meals were delivered to residents by some 20 community groups filling a roster of two cars, five days a week.

The service, which provides meals to hundreds in the community, now operates out of Watt Drive in Bathurst.