The former Feros Village aged care site at Byron Bay will continue to operate as a quality aged care facility for decades to come after the NSW Government awarded a long-term 40-year lease with the site's new operator St Andrew's Village Byron Bay Ltd.
St Andrew's took over operation of the Marvell Street site in January on an interim licence after it was selected as the preferred proponent to negotiate a lease following a public expression of interest (EOI) process.
The EOI was initiated by the NSW Government after the former operator Feros Care announced In February 2023 that it planned to close the aged care facility.
Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has now negotiated a long-term lease with St Andrew's, which will see it operate the aged care facility until at least 2064.
St Andrew's is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that has provided aged care in the Ballina region since 1983, and has significant aged care experience and financial capabilities.
As part of the lease agreement, St Andrew's is investing about $3 million in capital works to ensure the site's aged care facilities are refurbished and aged care standards are met.
The land where the aged care facility is located remains Crown land owned by the NSW Government. Built assets on the reserve will remain in the ownership of the government for the community.
The reserve's purpose is 'Homes for the Aged', requiring the site to be used for residential aged care in accordance with the Commonwealth Aged Care Act 1997, and in alignment with the Crown Land Management Act 2016.
Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:
"The granting of this 40-year lease is a fantastic outcome that will ensure continued accommodation and essential health care services for existing and new residents, business certainty for St Andrew's, and an ongoing aged care facility for the community and residents of Byron Bay.
"The long-term lease will provide affordable options to ensure residents receive ongoing quality care, and importantly they will be consulted by St Andrew's in any decisions that may affect them or the village."
St Andrew's Chief Executive Officer Todd Yourell said:
"The 40-year lease has given St Andrew's Village Byron Bay the surety of ongoing operations it needs to invest an initial $3 million to upgrade and refurbish the aged care facilities at the site.
"The upgrade work has occurred in stages to minimise any disruption to the residents, and we will implement a residential care strategy to ensure essential health care services remain a priority for residents."
Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliott said:
"The awarding of the 40-year lease to St Andrew's Village is a massive community victory and together we've secured the long-term future for this important aged-care facility for our area.
"After the devastating news that Feros Care would close Byron Bay's Feros Village, State and Federal Labor Governments worked to find a new provider to keep the site open for residents.
"After months of work, we initially secured St. Andrew's, an established provider of aged care services, to run the current site and continue to provide high-quality care.
"This long-term lease now provides our community with security for local aged care services. I'm proud to be your strong voice in the Albanese Government delivering a long-term home for the residents."
Member for Ballina Tamara Smith said:
"This is a huge win for the residents who found themselves in their 80s and 90s having to take to the streets and protest so that their voices could be heard, and their home saved."
"Big thanks to the Minister and St Andrews for stepping in and turning the ship around so that our beloved residents can age in place and stay in the home they love and know."
