Feros Care in Byron Bay, New South Wales, was built more than 20 years ago by the late George Feros – a Greek migrant who used $180,000 raised from the community at the time.
According to ABC, the aged care facility is now facing imminent closure.
In a move which shocked residents, it was announced the facility will close on June 23, due to being unable to meet the complex regulations required under law for aged care.
The Department of Planning and Environment has said that any redevelopment plans would have to be approved by Crown Lands.
A group of the elderly residents have since refused to be evicted while the facility has a licence to continue operating in its current state until May next year.
The residents’ lawyer, Mark Swivel, who also sits on Byron Shire Council, said he would keep fighting for the aged care home not to be closed.
“There’s no permission that’s been granted by the state government for the place to close in terms of its use as a piece of Crown Land,” he told the ABC.
Feros Care CEO, Karen Crouch, said there were plans to develop alternative seniors accommodation on the crown-land site.
Ms Crouch added that the village could not close until everyone had “suitable accommodation that can meet their future care needs.”
Source: ABC
