Blue Haven Terralong Facts

Kiama Council loves a good story, our libraries are full of them! Lately we have become aware of some interesting stories circulating about Blue Haven.

Council recognises everyone's right to their own opinion, but we caution our community to be wary of unverified rumours and hearsay.

Here are some facts about our much-loved asset Blue Haven Terralong and Havilah Place:

Council is not seeking to divest Blue Haven Terralong Village

• Council resolved on 28 February 2023 to retain Blue Haven Terralong at a public meeting. You can watch the livestream, read the agenda and the minutes and obtain all the details and facts on Council's website. That means there is no plan to divest Blue Haven Terralong. Staff must implement Council decisions. All the facts are there for anyone to view.

Blue Haven Terralong unit vacancies

• Information on the availability of our Blue Haven Independent Living Units (ILUs) at our Terralong and Bonaira villages is via an email list, to which potential buyers can sign up. Sales are managed on a first-come-first-served basis. This information is on the Blue Haven website

• There are currently 17 vacant units in our Blue Haven Terralong village, and an additional 4 vacant units under refurbishment. That is higher than usual but there are some good reasons for this outlined below.

• Our previous Independent Living Unit Manager retired earlier this year, after an amazing 45+ years of dedicated service and we thank him sincerely for his work at Kiama Council. Recruitment for a new ILU Manager is underway with interviews occurring this week. This role plays an important role in the sales, coordination and day to day management of our 250+ ILUs and their residents.

• It is important to note that the Blue Haven Terralong asset is quite aged, some units are more than 40 years old and, like all homes, repairs and maintenance need to be done. After 40 years of useful life, sometimes more than just repairs or a lick of new paint is needed. Major works like water-proofing, plastering, bathroom and kitchen refurbishments need to occur.

• Some units and common areas also need fire safety compliance work. It's essential to get this right, as fire safety is critical for everyone.

• It takes time to fix units and do maintenance and, like many in our community Council sometimes finds it hard to find tradespeople and construction work takes time to book in and complete.

• Blue Haven has had an unusually high number of residents transfer across to residential aged care recently, which creates a natural vacancy. This this is part and parcel of managing retirement villages and supporting ageing populations.

• Independent Living Units are a competitive market and recently new offerings have opened, on top of several existing retirement villages in our LGA, and beyond for buyers to select from. Blue Haven competes with those places, and sometimes we don't always become a buyers' choice.

Status of former Residential Aged Care Facility and Havilah Place

• The former Residential Aged Care facility at Havilah Place is in an advanced state of dilapidation. Council has deemed the premises unsafe and unhealthy to enter or occupy. Therefore, Council will be installing security fencing around the premises to make the area secure and unable to accessed by the public or Council staff (except for official purposes).

• Council's contracted surveyors are currently surveying the former Residential Aged Care facility and nearby Kiama Community Gardens.

• As required by the NSW Government's varied Performance Improvement Order, Council is currently preparing subdivision plans to:

• Ensure that the Kiama Community Garden is situated on community land rather than Blue Haven Terralong operational land, and
• Examine options to subdivide and divest of the former Residential Aged Care facility at Havilah Place

Status of Kiama Sports Precinct, Havilah Place

• Council is also currently preparing a masterplan for the Kiama Sports Precinct, including the Kiama Leisure Centre. However, this is in very early stages, with a first draft expected by the end of this year.

• Consultation with the community on the draft masterplan will occur prior to Council endorsement of any projects or recommendations of the masterplan.

• The processes of masterplanning, subdividing and rezoning land are long and involved, with many steps and stages that will require Council and NSW Government endorsement. We will keep our community informed as we move through these processes.

Council's official position and spokespeople