Walgett Shire Council say they are listening to the locals, as they work to find a way to re-open the town's aged care facility, Kookaburra Court.

Operator Whiddon Group closed the aged care facility and transferred management of the building to Council in March 2022, leaving Walgett hospital as the only residential aged care option in the district.

Community consultation sessions this year found strong support for repurposing Kookaburra Court to provide accommodation for over-55s capable of caring for themselves.

Councillors recently hired an aged care expert to weigh their options as councillors give "in principal" support to reopen Kookaburra Court.

Councillors at their ordinary monthly meeting on 24 June resolved for a report to be presented in five months outlining options for future operation at the site. 

"At eight rooms, renting them out is going to be cost-prohibitive," Interim General Manager Andrew Brown said.

"I started putting together some costings just on having a gardener or a cleaner, maintenance, electricity, rates water, etcetera, and we're starting to get pretty expensive.

"It looked like around about $500 per week, per room."

Kookaburra Court was Walgett's only aged care facility. IMAGE: Walgett Shire Council

"So, we need to find a way to subsidise, say, four rooms as self-care living for elderly people and four rooms generating income through the NDIS or something like that," he said.

Professor Rodney Jilek is a researcher in aged care and was recruited to deliver the report.

He has experience in Walgett as a clinical advisor to the local hospital and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service.

Prof. Kilek will probe the viability of different models, and ways to implement them.

After the report, Council will consider whether they should directly operate the facility, partner with a community group or seek an external provider.

"It's my view that Council should continue to own and manage the building, but not provide any care," said Councillor Jane Keir, who had worked as a registered nurse at Kookaburra since 2014.

"It has to go to another provider that really knows how to do it."

The future of Kookaburra Court came up for discussion in at Walgett's June council meeting. IMAGE: River McCrossen

"Certainly it's very, very expensive to provide aged care, but besides the cost it's the legal aspects of it," she said.

"There is so much involved in aged care."

New rules for aged care providers will come into effect on 1 November after the federal government announced in early June that they would delay the date from the start of July. 

The rules include mandatory minutes of care for each aged care resident per day.

A registered nurse will also have to be on site 24/7, although eligible rural facilities can apply for exemptions for 12 months at a time.

Whiddon Group had been managing Korumburra for over 13 years when it shut.

The organisation said that declining resident numbers and an annual quarter-million-dollar loss forced their executive to make the call.

The facility has ten self-contained rooms with ensuites and communal living areas.

 It remains structurally sound and compliant with fire safety standards, according to the council's June meeting business papers, requiring only minor remedial works to welcome residents again.

“There’s still a lot of work ahead, but this is a positive move in the right direction, and we will keep advocating for a solution that meets the needs of our shire,” Walgett mayor Jasen Ramien said.

“It’s a great step forward and we want the community to know that we are listening.

"Our locals don’t want to leave their family, friends, or the place they call home."