They may be more comfortable sitting, but stubborn residents appear to have won another round in their stand-off with an aged-care provider on the NSW north coast.
Key points:
Feros Care’s Byron Bay retirement village was due to close on WednesdayTen residents are refusing to leaveFeros says it will continue to provide service, but “not indefinitely”
Feros Care told the 10 residents still living in its Byron Bay retirement village that services would cease on Wednesday.
But they have now been told there will be no evictions.
The news left 95-year-old Kate Smorty in a bullish mood.
“I just sort of feel sorry for the people who are trying to move us out, because we’re staying,” she said.
“There are a lot of people who have moved out, who are looking forward to moving moving back in.
“I hope I live long enough to see it.”
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‘A serious problem’
It was the second time the residents have called the bluff of the facility’s operator, which originally set a June 23 deadline.
That was pushed back to July 19 when it became obvious some residents were refusing to move.
A lawyer representing the residents, Byron Shire councillor Mark Swivel, said they now had the upper hand in the dispute.
“Feros as landlord has a serious problem,” Mr Swivel said.
“Because you’ve got 10 people who don’t want to move. Because they love where they live. And because of how they’ve been treated.
“They want this good facility to remain as an asset for the community for the next generation and beyond.”
Feros Care has a licence to continue operating the village until May next year, but says it is unable to meet the complex regulations required under law for aged care at a facility that was built more than 30 years ago.
On Wednesday, it issued a brief statement.
“Feros Care Bryon Bay Village is scheduled to close on July 19 as it no longer meets the government requirements of a residential aged care facility.
However, due to the refusal of residents to leave the facility within the time frame, and our commitment as a charity to the safety and wellbeing of residents, we will continue to operate, but not indefinitely.”
The statement said Feros Care’s priority was “to support the remaining residents to make decisions in their best interests to ensure their current and future care needs are met.”
About 30 residents have moved out and found somewhere else to live since closure plans were announced in February.
Mick Eddings outside the Byron Bay retirement village he calls home. (ABC North Coast: Bruce MacKenzie)
Mick Eddings, who is one of the remaining 10 residents, has no intention of following their lead.
“They won’t close down, they can’t do that,” he said.
“Someone else might take over, but the place will keep going. There’s no doubt about that.”
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Posted Yesterday at 2:49amWed 19 Jul 2023 at 2:49am, updated 15h ago15 hours agoWed 19 Jul 2023 at 2:22pm
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