Steps have already been taken to progress the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira, with an appointment being made for someone to undertake the work required for the reclassification process.

This is needed to change the land from community to operational. It will involve a public hearing before a planning proposal is lodged.

The reclassification work will happen in tandem with the calling of expressions of interest for the Bonaira asset. The sale will follow the detailed tender and due diligence process used for the sale of Akuna St (which is now expected to exchange next week).

Paul Sadler, an expert in the aged care industry, will sit as an independent member of the selection panel.

The CEO, Jane Stroud, is hopeful of the public hearing being held this year.

“Time is of the essence, most importantly for the staff and the people we care for,” she says.

Council also has to apply for a funding variation for a $10 million Regional Economic Development grant, that it obtained in 2019 for the construction of Bonaira, which restricts its sale until 2024.

“We can sell it if we are not changing the use, but we need to get the variation to do so,” says Ms Stroud.

Ms Stroud has written a discussion paper on the particular issues faced by councils involved with aged care, and is looking forward to talking about it with the six other councils at the Local Government NSW Conference on 23-25 October.