Business
21 April, 2024
$10m aged care boost
UP to 25 new jobs are on offer following the completion and opening of the $9.5 million upgrade of the Pyramid Residential Care Centre.
The work included the expansion of 20 new rooms (Magpie Block), the refurbishment of five existing rooms (Finch Block) and a new laundry, increasing the capacity of the low care assisted living facility complex to 76 residents.
The expansion was funded by the Australian Government ($6.5m) and the care centre’s reserves.
The new facility – an upgrade and expansion of the original centre opened in 1978 – is set among green lawns, landscaped gardens and views of Walshs Pyramid and surrounding cane fields.
Centre president Paul Gregory said “we are proud to have been part of the Gordonvale community for more than 45 years and we would not be here without the support of many incredible people”.
At the opening last Friday, two of the founding trustees Kevin Murgatroyd and Ray Hickling attended.
“We remember a local legend Stan Marsh, a Gordonvale local and who spent his final days right in this centre, would be proud to see his dream accomplished,” Mr Gregory said. “We also honour Bruce Clarke (above), who has given both professional architectural services and his personal time and effort to the centre over many years. To honour his commitment the activities lounge will be known as the Bruce Clarke Activities Lounge.”
Construction project manager and centre manager Jennie Cotterill said the facility was built by the community, for the community’s benefit, involving a local project group chaired by Mr Clarke with members of the architectural and construction teams and the centre’s own board.
She said more than 80 per cent of subcontractors were local. The main contractor was Bryant Constructions.
The centre employs 80 people but needs 25 new staff.
Ms Cotterill said the majority of staff required were skilled registered and enrolled nurses.
She said the centre aimed to employ skilled locals and invited interested people to visit their website:
