Geelong: Our Elderly Deserve Better

Portarlington's Ann Nichol aged care home is a step closer to being sold and possibly privatised.

The State Government revoked Crown Land restrictions on the site at the request of Bellarine Community Health, which wants to sell the not-for-profit home to a private operator.

Although the land can now be used for purposes other than “health and social welfare”, BCH has vowed it will only sell to another aged care operator.

However, Bellarine MP Lisa Neville criticised the Government for the move in Parliament this week, saying it was a blow for the vocal Portarlington residents, who have been fighting for months to keep the centre in public hands.

“The Napthine Government’s decision to change the status of the Crown Land has virtually put Ann Nichol House up for sale,” she said.

“This decision flies in the face of what the community had asked the Government to do — to protect the Crown Land and so prevent the sale of Ann Nichol House to a private provider.

“The community, supported by the City of Greater Geelong and the Borough of Queenscliffe, want Ann Nichol House to remain in the hands of a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, as was always intended.”

Ms Neville’s questions to Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith were the backdrop to an alleged altercation in the Parliamentary dining room between the pair, although Mr Smith later denied her claims that the conversation became heated and that he swore.

Mr Smith was the authority who removed restrictions on the Crown Land which specified that it only be used for “health and social welfare” purposes, telling Parliament it was simply a part of his administrative duties.

Ann Nichol House was built on the back of community fundraising efforts in the early 1990s before later being handed over to BCH.

Although it presently holds 60 aged care beds, BCH is offering potential buyers the chance to expand the centre to 100 beds by including its 40-bed licence from Point Lonsdale’s Coorabin aged care home, which it closed last year.

BCH chief John Fendyk said the facility would only be sold to another aged care provider, with private companies and not-for-profit operators both in the mix.

But the sale can only proceed if the State Government transfers the Crown land title to the new owner and if the Federal Government agrees to the transfer the bed licences.

Portarlington residents again voiced their opposition to the proposed sale at a public meeting last weekend, calling on BCH to suspend negotiations with potential buyers and the governments to block privatisation.