Rest-homes opposed to village proposal

A proposal to invest up to $5 million developing a retirement village on Oamaru's Hospital Hill drew mixed reactions on Wednesday as the Waitaki District Council heard verbal submissions on its draft annual plan.

The council sought feedback on whether it should contribute to the cost of connecting the proposed development to water and roading services ($180,000) and invest up to $5 million in the development, as a commercial loan to council-owned health company Waitaki District Health Services Ltd.

Virtually all rest-home operators in Oamaru oppose any council support, but health services chairman George Berry said they ''should not be apprehensive'' about the project proposed.

On Wednesday, the council heard from Presbyterian Support Otago's older persons services director, Maurice Burrowes, who said current occupancy levels of existing providers in Oamaru averaged between 72% and 85% over the past six months.

Claims there was an unmet demand for residential care beds in Oamaru were ''simply unfounded''.

He said no contact had been made with existing providers in Oamaru about their potential to expand.

Vic Inglis, on behalf of Rendell on Reed Rest Home, said a retirement village would benefit only a select few.

She said many statements in the report on the village development were ''baseless and biased''. The report writer had not, as claimed, made contact with existing rest-homes in Oamaru.

''We believe, at the very least, that a further report [should] be completed, one that is independent, unbiased and this time includes both Southern District Health Board and local facility provider feedback.''

Harbour View Rest Home owners Gary and Denise Jeffares questioned whether a retirement village would solve any of the problems faced by the elderly in Oamaru and also called for an independent report.

Sandringham House owner/manager Kelvin Taylor said the proposal appeared to be targeted at those with a high net worth, not the ordinary elderly residents of North Otago.

Mr Berry said it would be at least two years before the village could be built and operating and demand was expected to grow.

''The residential elements of the development will financially support the care facility.''

Contrary to what the submissions were suggesting, the development was being planned to cater for all levels of demand, not any select group, he said.

There would be a range of pricing for villas and apartments for residents that would be affordable for local people and in line with Oamaru and the Waitaki District housing costs, he said.

Mr Berry was not surprised some existing operators argued the development should not proceed but the company had wider community obligations to plan for.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said councillors would need to study the reports and seek independent advice where necessary.

All submissions will be considered before the council makes its final decisions on June 11.

The final annual plan will be formally adopted by the council on June 25.

- rebecca.ryan@odt.co.nz

 

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