Scene Set For Caring

Newcastle Herald

Monday January 21, 2008

By FRANCES THOMPSON

ANGLICAN Care plans a new type of aged accommodation in Newcastle with sweeping coastal views.

The organisation says it can help subsidise services for less well-off clients.

Anglican Care plans a two-level, $10 million development in Scenic Drive, Merewether, that will provide accommodation for 55 people.

Chief executive Denis Byron said the 20-unit, top level of the planned Scenic Lodge had panoramic views of the coast from Stockton to Glenrock.

Residents would receive a high level of care and they would have enough "discretionary spending" to buy in additional services.

The development includes a cinema.

Downstairs, there will be 35 frail-aged units, Mr Byron said.

Anglican Care is a not-for-profit organisation, he said.

However, it has an asset that could be run economically and subsidise other services for the less financially well-off.

The organisation runs existing aged-care services at the site, which was once a motel.

Mr Byron said the building, which backs on to bush, was not up to acceptable standards and was a bushfire risk.

Anglican Care operates more than 500 aged-care places in Newcastle.

Mr Byron said if the development was approved by Newcastle City Council he expected building could begin in mid-2009.

The development will be on public exhibition until January 29.