Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (third from left) pictured with Cooinda Coonabarabran board members Kevin Baldock, David Sanson and Stuart Rodgers (right), CEO Leanne Redfern and Operations Manager David Cholson.
The kitchen and laundry facilities at Cooinda Coonabarabran are set to undergo a major renovation, thanks to a $2.1 million investment from the Federal Government.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton yesterday visited Cooinda Coonabarabran to discuss plans for the kitchen and laundry upgrade, which has been substantially funded under the Building Better Regions Fund.
“Cooinda is a wonderful facility and it’s fantastic to visit to see and hear first-hand just what a difference this upgrade will make for both staff and residents,” Mr Coulton said.
“The funding will be used to renovate and extend the existing kitchen and construct a new laundry at the aged care facility, making life much easier for the hard-working staff which in turn will have a significant impact on the quality of care provided to our elderly residents.
“Aged care homes are essential in our rural and regional towns and the Federal Government is committed to ensuring these facilities provide the high standard of care required to meet the demands of our ageing population.”
Mr Coulton said this project will also create local jobs during the construction period, providing a significant economic boost to Coonabarabran.
“The Building Better Regions Fund is all about strengthening the local economy and delivering lasting benefits to communities like Coonabarabran, particularly as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19,” Mr Coulton said.
“Cooinda deserves a huge congratulations on receiving this grant – it’s an outstanding success for our region and I’m very excited to see these upgrades come to fruition.”
Cooinda Coonabarabaran CEO Leanne Redfern was thrilled to receive this funding, and thanked Mr Coulton and the Federal Government for the support.
“The refurbishment and extension of the main kitchen will not only provide the staff with more room and state-of-the-art equipment, but it will also ensure that the focus on quality food and preparation is maintained for our vulnerable residents well into the future,” Ms Redfern said.
“It will also allow our organisation to branch out in food provision to the wider community and provide further opportunities for additional employment in the region.
“The relocation of the laundry will ensure that we are fully compliant with infection control requirements and also provide our staff with a safe and quality workspace. There may also be opportunity to expand our services in this area as well.
“We know our residents well and if the food is of high quality and their laundry is well attended, we know we are on the right track.”
In addition to the Federal Government’s $2.1 million investment, Cooinda is contributing $220,000 to the project.
The Cooinda upgrade is one of only three projects in the Parkes electorate to receive funding under Round 5 of the BBRF. The Australian Government has committed almost $300 million to 298 projects across regional Australia under this latest round, taking the total support to $1.38 billion.
For a full list of successful projects, please visit: www.business.gov.au/bbrf