THERE are hopes for extra aged care beds in Leongatha by mid-2026 as Woorayl Lodge management continues progress to bring stage 1 of its planned Boags Road facility to fruition.

The first stage is intended to add about 40 beds to existing capacity, with the current McCartin Street facility having 40 permanent beds, and one respite bed, with a waiting list of 30 for permanent beds.

The buildings will be created in pod form, with eight to 11 rooms per pod, with an office and kitchen to be included in stage 1.

“Each pod will be designed to be able to manage high care residents,” Co-CEO Jaimee Brydon said.

While a council permit has been issued, management is awaiting the outcome of an application for funding through the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program.

Stage 1 has been budgeted at $22 million, with $8.25 million of that to be provided by the grant, if successful, and that figure to be matched by Woorayl Lodge and the remaining approximately $5.5 million to be generated through fundraising.

Should the grant application be successful, work would need to get underway by May this year, with a two-year time frame anticipated for stage 1 works.

That build time would allow fundraising efforts to continue during building, with money raised going towards the later fit-out costs.

As for the sought after Federal grant, management will pursue funding through round 2 of the same program if unsuccessful in round 1.

Discussions have been taking place with builders and consultants to enable construction to get underway in a timely fashion once funding is secured. 

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien was an interested visitor on Thursday, hearing about the stage 1 plans, but is not able to campaign for State Government funding with facilities such as Woorayl Lodge falling in the Federal domain.