Work at the Ron Andrews Nursing Home is “going well” with the Pakenham Aged Care (PAC) Board of Management confirming that the opening date is on track. 86792
By Danielle Galvin
THE long-awaited refurbishment of the Ron Andrews Nursing Home is on track – after a series of unfortunate setbacks halted the $10 million facelift.
Concrete slabs have been erected in the past couple of weeks and the site is coming along well, according to Pakenham Aged Care Board of Management president Rob Nobelius.
He said construction company Becon, based in Hallam, had taken over the development.
“It’s going very well,” he said.
“Becon are a local construction company and they appear to be on schedule.”
Mr Nobelius said the finishing date was expected to be around 30 June next year.
“They are well and truly on time with what’s going on right now,” he said.
“Even despite the wet weather, they’ve kept up with their schedule and it’s nearly the same finishing date as what we would have had.”
It has been a tumultuous time for PAC after builders walked off the site in early March and a deliberately lit fire completely destroyed a portable shed the following week.
In July, the PAC Board of Management chose Becon to take over from Kirway Constructions after builders from the company walked off the site in early March.
The three-storey facility is set to include an underground car park, two residential floors, 10 extra beds, an upgraded kitchen, in-house laundry and café.
Pakenham Aged Care encompasses the Ron Andrews Nursing Home, high care dementia services, and low care accommodation at Millhaven Hostel.
Linda Austen, the PAC Director of Nursing said the team were thrilled to see the redevelopment taking fruition.
“I can say that we are very excited to see the panels going up,” she said.
“The work is happening rapidly – all of the panels are prefabricated and so they have just dropped them into place.
“We are just hoping for good weather and not this terrible wind.”
Ms Austen said residents were excitedly watching the revedelopment.
“The other day, residents lined up and had a look when the big crane was there,” she said.
“And we have a great relationship with the builder too.”
