ACT spends $10 million upgrading respite centre, no new beds
The ACT Government is spending $10 million to renovate Burrangiri, but will not expand its 15-bed capacity.
The ACT Government is defending its decision to spend $10 million renovating the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre in Rivett. It will not expand it.
The work includes new heating and cooling systems and upgraded electrical infrastructure. There is a new kitchen and accessible bathrooms.
Dementia-friendly spaces will be built. Health Infrastructure Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told parliament the ageing building requires extensive work to remain operational.
The centre will close for about a year from July 2027. Community advocates and independent MLAs questioned why the Commonwealth funding wasn't used to add beds.
Demand for respite care in Canberra is growing.
- $10 million
- Upgrade cost
- 15 beds, unchanged
- Bed capacity
- About one year from July 2027
- Closure period
- GHD engineering consultancy
- Assessment firm
Why it mattersCanberra faces a shortage of respite care beds for elderly people; this upgrade maintains services but doesn't increase capacity when demand is rising.
AustraliaACT families relying on respite care will see the service close for a year with no guarantee of expanded capacity when it reopens.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
