Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry has welcomed the opening of the Mercy Community Centre, after a successful application to the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund Round 3.
The $2,500,000 million project includes the construction of a new community centre to provide recreation activities for residential care recipients, day respite and day therapy programs, which is jointly funded by the Federal Government ($1,300,000) and Mercy Health and Aged Care Central QLD ($1,200,000).
Ms Landry said she was pleased to see construction finish for the Mercy Community Centre.
“This project was a significant investment in building a strong community and driving jobs for the long term.
“Now that the $2.5 million Mercy Community Centre is completed, Rockhampton has another designated space to offer aged care recipients and their families a range of services including access to respite, therapy and recreational activities.
“The $841.6 million Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future,” Ms Landry said.
Mercy Aged Care Services Executive Officer and Director of Nursing, Mrs Lesley Schneider said the construction of the centre positively benefitted the Rockhampton economy, with local construction company BT Builders having won the construction contract.
“The Community Centre will soon provide a wonderful boost to the aged care social fabric, not only for the Bethany residents and their families, but for the entire community.
We see such incredible long-term benefits as a result of the project in terms of social support, therapy services, and activities that will engage the entire community” Mrs Schneider said.
“The development at the Aged Care facility has incorporated a Recreation Centre, Coffee Shop, Salon, Allied Health Services and welcome new infrastructure that can cater for a broad range of local events and services.
“Approximately ten full time jobs will be created when open, including those in Health and Management and Allied Health which will see a need for Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and additional staff.
“The new Community Centre will deliver benefits both economically and to the senior community of Rockhampton and surrounding districts, Mrs Schneider said.
