New era of care

Construction of Dunsborough’s first aged-care facility began on Monday with the first sod turning of Capecare Dunsborough.

The location on Naturaliste Terrace had been set aside for an aged-care facility since 2004, with the ceremony representing 15 years of planning and development work.

The project received $7.1 million in funding from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions fund and $2.5 million from the WA Government’s Regional Aged Accommodation Program.

Forrest MLA Nola Marino said the development epitomised the Federal Government’s focus on regional development.

“When you see what this means to a small community like Dunsborough, it’s even more important that we continue to fund growth in our regions,” she said.

“This is going to provide a wonderful facility for local people as well as the procurement of jobs.”

The $37.5 million project will be constructed by South West building company Perkins Builders.

Capecare chief executive Stephen Carmody said the “milestone” had been a long time coming, after several setbacks including changes in bushfire regulations and environmental restrictions.

“In the last two years, we have really consolidated our planning and now we have a project that’s doable and it’s all systems go,” he said.

“This will provide 65 full-time positions in nursing and palliative care for the next 40 years.” The site will include 21 independent-living apartments with 14 reserved.

The site will also house the new premises for the Dunsborough Country Women’s Association and president Jan Button said the branch, the largest in WA, was “thrilled” to see the beginning of works.