Kiama Council has begun the long process of reclassifying the Blue Haven Bonaira site from community land to operational land, something the CEO says has to happen no matter what keep/sell/lease option is finally decided on. 

While Kiama Hospital was able to operate as an exempt activity on community land, aged care is not an exempt activity and needs to take place on operational land. Blue Haven Terralong has this catorization.

“That should have happened within three months of Blue Haven Bonaira opening [November 2019],” says CEO Jane Stroud.

“We are now correcting that.

“There are risks to the business as a result of it.

“It is the same principle as if you operate a business in the Municipality you need to have the right approvals to operate. We are not exempt from the rules.”

Asked why it has taken so long to recognise this oversight, Mayor Neil Reilly says, “When we started to look at the business from June last year – from financial, operational and legislative perspectives – this is one of the things we’ve discovered. It just has to happen.”

Ms Stroud says, “Our ability to do really good project planning and our governance processes are not where they should be. These kinds of things should be part of good project planning.”

Amongst other things, the long reclassification process will require a public hearing.