Victoria Stone-Meadows

The machines are on site and plans are at the ready as construction of the Mossman Aged Care Centre officially gets underway.

After many years of hard work to bring an aged care facility to the region, President of the Mossman District Nursing Home Inc., Marjorie Norris, said seeing the work begin was a great triumph.

“The search for aged care here started in 1996, but we as a committee have been pursuing it for 23 years, we all saw the need for it all those years ago and now here we are,” she said.

“It’s exhilarating; I didn’t care if it snowed today, it was always going to be a wonderful day. This is a culmination of everyone’s effort and we have had tremendous support from the community here and from the Council.” 

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Ms Norris said the new centre will allow people to continue to call the Douglas Shire home as they age, instead of being forced to move away.

“One of the driving forces for this originally was everyone who worked in community, as they aged, they went out of the community,” she said. 

“Their family left the community and their money left the community and it was sad. They were so far away visits become shorter and their lifestyles become more anxious and less valued.

“Now we will be able to stay here at home when we age.”

The Salvation Army recently secured construction company Total Construction, to build the Kubirri Aged Care Centre at the Johnston Rd site next to the Mossman Hospital.

A development lease between Council and The Salvation Army was entered into in August 2016 for the Aged Care Facility on Council land located at Johnston Road, Mossman.

Council has invested significantly in the project including funding a business case, securing more than $500,000 funding for enabling infrastructure and waiving about $250,000 worth of infrastructure fees.

National Director of The Salvation Amy Aged Care, Richard de Haast said he and The Salvos are looking forward to the centre being complete next year.

“It’s been an incredibly long journey, though mine only been 10 months, but to be here to see it come to life is amazing,” he said. 

“It’s been a long time coming and we are looking forward to the opening next year. Out goal in Salvos aged care is to look after the vulnerable and here in Mossman we have an opportunity to service an area to do just that.”

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said the centre will bring benefits to the region for many years to come.

“Richard and his team at The Salvation Army have been fantastic and we thank them for their enthusiasm,” she said.

“We believe this project will boost wellbeing and provide a welcome economic windfall for Mossman.”