Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER mayor Sylvan Albert says the council has no plans to sell its Mertome retirement village ahead of a special council meeting about its redevelopment.

The Winifred Road home was established in 1972 and accommodates 213 people in 200 units. It was the first of its kind to be constructed by a council and pioneered councils’ involvement in aged care. Many councils are now getting out of the sector, labelling the assets financial white elephants.

Mertome’s tired facilities and pressing demand have forced the council to consider expensive redevelopment.

“The city has not considered any plans to sell Mertome,” Cr Albert says.

“The meeting will consider options for the proposed re-development of Mertome Village that take into account affordability, as well as the current and future demand from those looking for aged care accommodation.

“The city also performed a market/risk analysis to provide detailed information on competitors that provide similar services, pricing, and the current and future demand for retirement and aged care accommodation.”

An option being considered is a $170 million, 20-year redevelopment of the aged care complex, with 316 apartments in two- to seven-storey buildings. Some $22 million is required to fund the first stage. The council has $9m from the aged persons home and is looking to fund the $13m shortfall.

“We should redevelop the site as the aged care monies have never come from council,” Cr Terry Kenyon says, making clear his opposition to any talk of selling. “All their reserves is money accrued from the aged care facilities in the city of Bayswater.” In June 2006 the council entered into an agreement with Juniper—formerly Uniting Church Homes—to operate its retirement villages, including Mertome, and its residential aged care facilities.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK