Blue Haven sale update: Kiama Council extraordinary meeting outcomes

In an Extraordinary Meeting which took place 28 February, Kiama Councillors made some very important decisions on a number of pivotal matters that will help re-establish Council’s path to financial sustainability.

Councillors unanimously re-confirmed the divestment of all aged care services and assets at the Blue Haven Bonaira site. They also appointed StewartBrown Advisory as the aged care experts coordinating the tender and divestment process on behalf of Kiama Council.

It was decided to retain the independent living units at Blue Haven Terralong, while seeking a dilapidation/asset report on all the five stages of buildings located at this site. Council will also explore options for the subdivision, redevelopment or sale of Havilah Place and the potential subdivision and excising of the portion of land occupied by Kiama Community Garden at the Terralong site.

Councillors also voted to accept the following:

• Liquidity management plan
• Cash flow plan
• TCorp repayment of debt plan
• Distribution of proceeds of the Akuna Street sale
• Property divestment plan
• Service review scope for commercial services
• Exhibition of the Planning Proposal for the reclassification of the land at Blue Haven Bonaira

The Extraordinary Meeting marked a crucial stage in Council’s journey to establishing a financially sustainable future. During the past 12 months, we have openly shared information about significant financial issues, many of them involving Blue Haven.

The seriousness of the situation was confirmed by the NSW Auditor General and the issuing of a Performance Improvement Order by the NSW Minister for Local Government.

For residents of the Bonaira Aged Care Facility and Bonaira Independent Living Units and their families:

There will be no immediate change to the Residential Aged Care Facility care arrangements, staffing or business as usual and your care and wellbeing remains our priority.

The land reclassification public hearing process will commence shortly, with the tender for the Bonaira sale to be ready for an expected start in April. We anticipate this process could be resolved by the end of the year and will do all we can to keep the process moving swiftly. I appreciate for many of you at Bonaira this has been discussed and understood for some time and that you are eager to have certainty and finalisation.

Over the coming months, we will be in regular contact with updates and information.

We’d also like to consult with residents of the RACF, ILUs, our Home Care clients, and their families to create a ‘resident/client bulletin’ which will highlight what you value most about Blue Haven Bonaira to incorporate into the tender process and help guide a successful transition.

For residents of Terralong Independent Living Units and their families:

Work will commence shortly on commissioning the dilapidation report and we will keep you informed as to how this work will be done.

Surveys on the site will be conducted to support the excision of lands and work will be scoped on the required planning process.

Council will continue to hold regular meetings and listening posts with resident groups, staff and families from both Bonaira and Terralong sites and we’re always very happy to hear from you.