A PLAN to sell Anglican Care's Bulahdelah's Cedar Wharf Lodge has angered community members who say it breaches an agreement made in good faith. Login or signup to continue reading The facility is on the market, and critics say Anglican Care is not working collaboratively with the community towards a beneficial outcome. It has also created an increasing sense of urgency to the community's calls for better access to health care services.
Great Lakes Nursing Home was opened as a not-for-profit aged care organisation in 1991. It was built with money raised by the community and with the support of the Lindsay Ireland and his family who offered the family farm as security for the original development. It was expanded over time to become a 57-bed nursing home for low-care and high-care residents, with six adjacent self-care units.
In July 2017, land and improvements were transferred to Anglican Care for a dollar, together with liabilities of $1.171 million. Mr Ireland's granddaughter, Megan Smith, says the arrangement came with an expectation of continued aged care service provision and community benefit.
Anglican Care closed Cedar Wharf Lodge in March, 2022, citing financial concerns, without consultation or a search for alternative service providers, Ms Smith says. "Our community entered into this agreement in good faith, expecting sustained, long-term healthcare services," Ms Smith said. "The unilateral closure and subsequent sale without community input or consideration for loc.