Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council is again discussing the possible sale of its Mertome retirement village.

New mayor Barry McKenna says with four new councillors — one-third of the council — it’s important to revisit the issue. Mertome needs revamping and the council’s choices are essentially to stump up $170 million for a proper facelift, do something cheaper, or sell the place to a “professional aged care operator”.

“The real question here is whether the City of Bayswater stays in control of the centre, or decides to move out of aged care,” Cr McKenna says.

“I don’t want to influence the new councillors by providing my opinion (but) I have always liked that were are a cradle-to-grave city: you can be born, educated, work and retire here.

“The new councillors are being brought up to speed on the history of issue and are very aware that we do need to consider the welfare of the residents living there.”

Council officers last year investigated building two seven-storey apartment blocks, with 316 apartments.

The council expects to spend more than $1 million on “asset renewal” to its aged-care buildings this financial year. In 2014/15 it spent $260,000.

Cr Terry Kenyon, who stood against Cr McKenna for the mayoralty, says he’s talked with Mertome residents—aged between 55 and 90—and they only want a basic upgrade. “All they want is a makeover,” he says. “Not the full monty, as they call it. They’re sick and tired of the council threatening to do this.

“I think it’s driven by the administration and people, councillors, who wrongly think we’re in a risky position to keep it because it’s not making a profit.”

He says he’s talked with new councillors about keeping the “asset” and says he will be “very surprised” if the council decides to sell.

Many councillors ousted at last month’s elections were supporters of the sale, he says.

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 local government involvement in aged care. Many councils are now getting out of the sector.

In 2006, Bayswater entered into an agreement with Juniper—formerly Uniting Church Homes—to operate the city’s retirement villages, including Mertome, and its residential aged care facilities.

by EMMIE DOWLING