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A $32 MILLION expansion of much needed aged care facilities has been forced to be put on hold as the Federal Government dithers over bed licences and cuts in aged care funding.
Lithgow Aged Care last year announced plans to expand its Cooinda complex in three stages to provide 73 new beds.
But not only has the government agency rejected the bed applications twice it has so far refused to say why.
Without the licences assured the volunteer-based organisation cannot proceed with the planned construction.
“We are not going to proceed with the construction and then be unable to allocate the beds,” treasurer Olwyn King said.
“Without the licences there is no federal funding to assist with the residential costs of our residents.
This week representatives of Lithgow Aged Care — president Jeff Cafe and CEO Sharon Holt — met with Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen and the ALP’s Calare candidate Jess Jennings to outline community concerns at the looming crisis.
They have also contacted the Nationals candidate Andrew Gee seeking support.
Meetings with and representations by the now retired Federal Member, the Nationals’ John Cobb, went nowhere.
Shortly before announcing his retirement Mr Cobb met with the Cooinda board, staff and residents and promised to make representations.
This year there were 93 new aged care bed licences issued for Calare.
Seventy of these went to Bathurst and the remaining 23 to Orange.
Both have a much bigger voter base than Lithgow.
And there’s another twist to the Lithgow snub.
When applications are rejected the applicant is entitled to apply for an explanation.
Lithgow Aged Care was promised a response from the Department of Ageing by the end of May.
At the time of writing this response had still not been received.
The rejection is a blow to Lithgow where the standard of the planned expansion had been applauded.
At present there are 50 applicants on the Cooinda waiting lists and other aged care facilities in Lithgow are also understood to be at capacity.