The sale of land at Clement Street from MidCoast Council to Anglican Care is ready for settlement.

Anglican Care can now proceed with the design and construction of the $18 million purpose-built aged care facility for the needs of the ageing community in Gloucester.

In August 2015, Anglican Care became the successful proponent of the tender process to accept the transfer of 60 aged care licences from Gloucester Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

Since then, the process has been underway to select a suitable location and finalise other regulatory issues. Anglican Care was in the process of purchasing the large block of vacant land next to the high school, but this process was delayed after the council merger in May 2016.

“We are very pleased to be able to move ahead with this project. While it has taken considerable time to get to this point, it was important that everything was ticked off and community consultation held prior to the sale being finalised,” Anglican Care chief executive office, Colin Osborne said.  

“Anglican Care is extremely excited to be able to offer our services to the Gloucester community and we would like to thank MidCoast Council and Hunter New England Health Local Health District for their assistance. We get in to the fun stage of construction and design now,” Mr Osborne said. 

General manager Lower Mid-North Coast Sector, Jodi Nieass said Hunter New England Health is looking forward to continuing work with the planning team to guide the transition. 

“We will continue to provide aged care as usual until the new facility is finished and ready to accept residents,” Ms Nieass said

“We will also ensure that residents and their families are kept informed as planning continues.”

MidCoast Council is also looking forward to moving to the next stage with the project. 

"MidCoast Council has enjoyed working in partnership with Anglican Care and is pleased that a number of outstanding issues in relation to the project have been able to be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties," council's director of community spaces and services, Paul De Szell said.  

"We are looking forward to continuing to work with Anglican Care so that the benefits of the project can be realised for not only older Gloucester residents but also the broader community."

Now the project can move into the development application stage, with hope of breaking ground later this year, subject to council approval.

Anglican Care will continue to consult with the community to ensure the facility built is best suited for the community.