15 December 2023
Dear family member/resident representative,
I’m writing to provide you with some information about the progress of our plans for the redevelopment of IRT Woonona.
You might recall that earlier this year we made a decision to wind down the services in the Ribbonwood and Blueberry Ash buildings of your loved one’s care centre, and the building referred to as the rectory. This is in preparation for redevelopment of the site which will require the demolition of these buildings.
Care services will continue to be delivered in the Flametree building, and retirement village units at Camellia Lodge will also continue operating.
Since our last message to you about this we have continued meeting with each of our Ribbonwood and Blueberry Ash residents, and their representatives, and pleasingly many residents have already indicated the preferred locations for their future home.
We are grateful for the patience and cooperation of those residents and nominated representatives during this process.
Progress of plan for the future
Meanwhile we are working on the details required for submission of the major development application. In addition to finalising the design of the new buildings, this includes preparation of all reports and studies necessary for such a project including environmental, flood and drainage, and geotechnical.
In the coming weeks, you or your loved one may notice some activity in the car park and building surrounds as expert consultants carry out the work necessary for the preparation of their reports. In conducting the geotechnical studies, this will involve the use of hand tools and two types of drilling machinery (one which is smaller in size than a car, and the other about the size of a large truck).
Weather permitting, the geotechnical work will be carried out during the week commencing 18 December between the hours of 8am and 5pm. Traffic and pedestrian safety will be managed and supervised throughout this work.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you or your loved one.
Demolition DA
The exhibition period for our application to Wollongong City Council for the demolition of the Ribbonwood, Blueberry Ash buildings and the rectory closed this week. We expect to be able to provide you with an update on the outcome of that application early next year.
We will continue to keep you updated and will share more information about the progress of our designs for the new site early next year.
If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your Care Manager.
Yours sincerely
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
