The project, which will also include a new state-of-the-art building to bolster capacity, will begin at Respect’s Woodhaven centre in Lockhart next week.
The not-for-profit organisation has been working on the project for the past three years, and on Saturday, it finally launched the works with a special sod-turning ceremony.
The facility’s older residents Cyril Wooden, 98, and Elva Smallwood, 104, were given the privilege of digging up the first lot of ground at the site on Hebden Street.
Respect chief executive Jason Binder said the project was exciting for the residents and the community.
“It’s been a few years in the works, it was delayed by COVID-19 and it’s finally going ahead now, which is fantastic,” Mr Binder said.
“It’s exciting for the residents and for the community because it’s an important asset in the community.”
Lockhart’s Woodhaven Aged Care Facility is getting a $5 million makeover, which will increase its capacity to 32 beds and include a new building, staff room, dining room, kitchen, laundry, salon, and allied health room.
The redevelopment is needed to meet the growing demand for aged care services in the community, and it will ensure that Woodhaven remains a modern and state-of-the-art facility.
The new building will be designed to create a sense of community for residents, and it will feature new gardens and courtyards. The existing facilities will also be upgraded, including the common areas, reception, and admin areas.
The redevelopment is expected to be completed by December 2024, and it is being supported by grant funding from the federal Department of Health and Aged Care.
