Stage three of GLAICA’s $40-million Pacific Cape Residential and Aged Care development in Forster is scheduled for completion in two months. Stage one and two were completed in November and stage three of the self care development with 14, two-bed villas and a new club house, was due for completion in September 2018. GLAICA general manager, John Quinn said tenders for the construction of the first stage of the 160-bed residential aged care facility component of the development were expected to be awarded in the second half of next year. “We now have approval for a 160 bed residential aged care facility on the site along with a 20 bed unit apartment which has an elevated undercover secure link to the residential aged care facility,” Mr Quinn said. “We are engaging with various consultants for the residential aged care facility, including the kitchen and laundry aspects as they will be in the sub basement and we need to get those important functions in order prior to going to tender. “It will be a two-staged process with 86 suites – kitchen, laundry, underground car parking (100 cars) which will take 18 months.” Meeting GLAICA representatives on site in Kularoo Drive member for Lyne David Gillespie congratulated the organisation on the progress of the development. “Two years ago I announced a multi-million dollar commitment to this project in the form of 144 Federally-funded residential aged care places to support the project and I am delighted stage three of the residential village is complete and construction will now commence in September on a 20 bed apartment building,” Dr Gillespie said. “This project is not only delivering a major social benefit to Forster and the broader Great Lakes community, but also a significant economic benefit to the region through the creation of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs both during and after construction.” Dr Gillespie said the Federal government was making a record investment in residential aged care. “There is a significant expansion going on in retirement living here in our part of the world, particularly in the various forms of aged care services being made available, with more than $130-million a year being invested by our government locally in our electorate.”