In response to the article “Council’s Murchison home bid raises questions” written by Darren Linton on March 18 I offer this response.
In October 2019 the Murchison community showed tremendous support for our nursing home, with 500 residents and concerned citizens attending a public meeting and taking action to keep the former DP Jones nursing home, Neighbourhood House and medical centre open. As stated in the report to council the Neighbourhood House and medical centre buildings were privately purchased, with new owners committed to maintaining town services. Now the remaining assets related to the liquidation of Murchison Community Care are for sale.
Earlier this year council received a briefing from a small group of people representing our action group, which included the chief executive of Honeysuckle Regional Health to propose that council consider purchasing the building so that the accredited aged care provider approved by the Department of Health for this purpose could restore aged care services in Murchison.
Purchasing the nursing home could make up for an indescribable loss that has been weighing on Murchison for more than two years.
Darren and others state that purchasing a nursing home is not part of council’s core business; however, council both owns and runs child care centres, saleyards, sporting and recreational facilities. This is strictly a purchase of a nursing home building. Council is not going to be running it. This purchase would actually benefit ratepayers because it would generate revenue. It is also important to look at how this would improve the lives for many families in the region in addition to improving council’s overall fiscal position.
The most compelling reasons council should submit an expression of interest to purchase the former DP Jones nursing home include:
- Funds are available at present.
- There is an approved provider that has already agreed to lease the facility providing an 8% return on the building purchase.
- Reopening the nursing home would restore approximately 70 jobs within the City of Greater Shepparton.
- Reviving a nursing home in Murchison is an attraction for families to move to or stay in the area.
- After purchase there are other possible federal funds that could be applied for by council or the tenant to further develop the building and/or make repairs.
- Even if the highest risk scenario presented in the article were to occur, council would still have an asset and our community would have input if other services were sought or the building had to be sold in the future.
Council has committed to continue its due diligence to ensure this is a responsible purchase; it is absurd for Darren to state the purchase could be disastrous for ratepayers as a whole. The disaster has already occurred — this is a measured and appropriate emergency response.
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