mmg.com.au

The new 120-bed aged care facility to be built on the edge of Echuca on the Northern Hwy is running behind schedule.

Innovative care chief executive Graeme Croft said the company was waiting for Campaspe Shire Council to provide the final sign off for its plans before the building could start.

Last January it was reported that the facility would be up and running by the end of this year, after a 12 month construction period, but Mr Croft said it was now more likely to be February next year.

He said Campaspe Shire Council had been ‘‘very slow’’ in turning the planning documents around.

The site is on the corner of Fehring Lane and the Northern Hwy and will offer a mix of low and high-care places.

The site was chosen because it was near the town’s entrance, was flat and because there were not a large number of other sites.

Mr Croft said Echuca had a rapidly aging population and statistics showed it was under supplied in aged-care places.

Plans for the site were approved by council in November.

Campaspe Shire planning and building manager Bill Cathcart said at the time councillors moved a motion which included a number of additional requirements on the developer.

These included requirements from other bodies including VicRoads, Public Transport Victoria, Coliban Water, Goulburn-Murray Water and the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

‘‘As with all developments of this scale and importance, the conditions set down ensure the developer does everything ‘by the book’ with all relevant infrastructure service authorities for the site,’’ he said.

He said council had been advised construction would be completed towards the end of the year and it was excited by the opportunities the project would bring to the region.