On Monday, Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot made the announcement that a total of 12,000 aged care places would be offered as part of the 2009-10 Aged Care Approvals Round.

Ms Elliot promised a total of 2933 aged care places for New South Wales, and this is the good news Oberon Council and the Oberon Aged Care Committee have been waiting for.

Mayor Keith Sullivan said that Oberon is already hot on the trail of acquiring beds for Oberon’s proposed aged care facility, which have to be applied for by aged care providers, such as Columbia Homes.

Cr Sullivan said Columbia Homes have said they are prepared to make an application for the beds, but will require a minimum allocation of 60 beds to make it viable.

Cr Sullivan believes Oberon has a good chance of procuring beds due to the fact it is very advanced in the planning stages for the facility. Plans are drawn up, a development application approved and the land already acquired for the facility.

“I believe we have done everything we can possible do,” he said.

Cr Sullivan said a meeting is being planned as soon as possible for all of the involved parties, including architect Mark Boffa, Columbia Homes, Council and the Aged Care Committee, to discuss the plan of action from here, as applications must be in by mid March this year.

Federal Member for Macquarie, Bob Debus, who has made several representations to the Minister regarding Oberon’s aged care requirements, has welcomed the announcement.

“Oberon Council and the Aged Care Committee have worked very hard to make the aged care industry aware of the district’s needs.”

“I hope that this round attracts the necessary applications from providers,” Mr Debus said.