Blue Haven Illawarra stays in Council hands after community outcry
Kiama Municipal Council’s Blue Haven aged care business, including its Bonaira retirement village, is staying in Council hands after it overturned its own decision to sell the business off.
Though the business on the NSW South Coast was labelled “financially unviable”, Council took the 5-4 decision in an extraordinary general meeting not to sell the 134-bed residential aged care home and 259 independent living units, as well as Blue Haven’s home care services, in the face of community opposition.
According to Mayor Neil Reilly, who voted in favour of continuing the sale, councillors had been “thoroughly briefed” on the dire financial position of Blue Haven; two weeks earlier, they had been informed that Council would not be able to continue to support the business without significant risk to solvency and liquidity.
“This is an extremely difficult and complex matter. While the proposed sale of Blue Haven is a key strategy in getting our finances back on track, we are also balancing the views of residents and other stakeholders,” he said.
Council will now consider alternative plans to lease, sell, or maintain Blue Haven, including potential joint ventures.
