Today’s announcement was made by federal member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie, and takes the total amount of nursing home beds to 90, 10 more than were publicly expected.

Anglican Care's chief executive Colin Osborne said it is "very pleased to have been successful in our application for additional beds at Gloucester, as it will enable our Residential Aged Care Home to be of a size that ensures its ongoing viability.” 

The existing 60 beds will be transferred by NSW Health to Anglican Care following completion of the new aged care complex.

“This has been a project I have been working on for some considerable period of time, having had lengthy discussions with the current and previous ministers and their departmental officials. Today is a historic day for Gloucester and I am delighted that all of our collective hard work has finally paid off,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Over one hundred jobs will be created over the construction phase and when the new facilities open, 80 people will be employed on site, delivering a significant boost to our local economy.”

He said that with the federally-funded places now secure, he intends working with Gloucester Shire Council to do whatever could be done to “expedite this project through council’s planning processes.”

“This project is just too important to be delayed by red tape, particularly for the significant social and economic benefits it will deliver the region for years to come.”

Dr Gillespie congratulated Anglican Care on the detailed work it had undertaken to date and said their track record would stand Gloucester in good stead.

“Anglican Care will provide a range of retirement and care option for the people of the Gloucester Shire. The new complex will feature dementia care, residential care and both one and two bedroom apartments for seniors in a modern lifestyle complex with all the facilities expected by retirees.”

In a busy day of aged care news for the region, Dr Gillespie also announced the approval of 144 federally funded aged care places for a new facility in Forster, part of a $40 million retirement complex planned by GLACIA House.

Aged care public meeting 

The increase in federally funded aged care places for Anglican Care’s impending complex comes fresh on the back of its purchase of council’s block of land on Clement St, announced earlier this month.

With designs now underway, Anglican Care will be hosting a public meeting in

Gloucester on Monday April 18 at noon at the Gloucester Soldiers Club, to update the community and outline further details and progress of the project. Anglican Care will also be running a survey to canvas ideas on what people want in the complex.