Aged care development at Kununurra creates jobs for locals

Western Australia’s leading care provider Juniper is overseeing the construction of a new $11.5 million multipurpose care facility in the East Kimberley. Last month, Juniper released the first CGI mock up of the facility, which will provide much needed services to people who would previously be forced to seek care in either Perth or Darwin.

Juniper Chief Executive Officer Vaughan Harding says the additional accommodation and care services will be of great comfort to the regions older people and their families.

“The purpose-built aged care facility now under construction brings much needed accommodation and enables the expansion of home and community care services in the region,” says Mr Harding.

“Juniper is responding to demand for care services in the East Kimberley and this initiative will go a long way to meet an unmet need.”

Local construction company Pindan Contracting, who have previously completed a number of aged care and health projects, have been appointed to build the facility.

The project has already created opportunities for local businesses, suppliers and subcontractors, and will directly engage 30 people at the peak of construction.

More than a dozen trade packages worth over $2.6 million have been sourced from local companies and suppliers, including earthworks, concreting, surveying, transport, carpentry and flooring.

Mr Harding says the project materials have also been sources within Western Australia, from Perth or from regional suppliers.

“We anticipate that greater than 65 percent of the trade packages’ value will be expended with subcontractors and suppliers within the Kununurra region alone, with Perth and other regional centers accounting for the remaining expenditure,” Mr Harding says. 

“Local traders, suppliers of temporary housing and miscellaneous sundries will also benefit from the general spend associated with the project.”

The new facility will include amenities such as accommodation, medical consulting rooms, nurse treatment room and five onsite staff accommodation units.

Once completed, Mr Harding says the facility is expected to provide employment for around 50 staff.

“The new facility will provide permanent care services (residential and home care) for 70-80 older people, comprising of 30 licensed beds, plus respite beds and 40-plus home care recipients,” he says.

Construction on the new Kununurra aged care facility, which began in April this year, is expected for completion in early 2018.