No quick fix for aged care

By Russell Bennett
CARDINIA Shire mayor Ed Chatwin said a retirement village for Emerald is in the council’s plans, but has warned it could take up to five years to become a reality.
Cr Chatwin said a lack of a retirement village was a “major problem” in his Ranges Ward and one was “sorely needed” in Emerald, Upper Beaconsfield, Avonsleigh or Clematis.
He said a parcel of land had already been earmarked in Emerald but amendments to the Planning Act had to pass through both State and Federal parliaments before the first bricks were laid, and “that could take anywhere from two to five years”.
His comments come after 82-year-old Emerald resident John Dudley spoke to the Gazette about the need for more local aged care.
He said he “couldn’t think of anything worse than having to retire down in Pakenham or Cranbourne”.
“All my family and friends are up here,” he said.
“We want to spend our geriatric days with them.
“There was a petition signed by around 300 local people six months ago,” he said.
“They cited a real lack of aged accommodation and a need for more.”
Mr Dudley said he feared that if a new retirement village was built in Emerald, it would not be affordable to local residents.
“It needs to be affordable to the local residents who need it,” he said.
Cardinia Council’s planning and development general manager Phillip Walton said Cardinia Shire had had preliminary discussions with a local landowner in relation to the development of a retirement village.
“The council recognises the need for older persons’ accommodation in townships such as Emerald and is currently developing a strategy to look at the provision of such housing,” Mr Walton said.