A closed regional aged care facility in NSW is set for a major revival, demonstrating how providers can unlock the value of existing infrastructure rather than starting from scratch.
Bulahdelah Community Lodge, which closed in 2022, is being refurbished and modernised through a redevelopment project led by Coverite Projects in partnership with Stroud Community Care Pty Ltd.
The project will transform the Bulahdelah facility into a contemporary aged care environment designed to support residents and staff while restoring an important local service for the community.
Coverite Projects Head of Strategy and Partnerships and Director Peter Davy said the project reflected a growing focus across the sector on making better use of existing aged care assets.
“Regional communities deserve access to high-quality aged care facilities close to home, but many aged care providers are facing the challenge of ageing infrastructure at a time when demand for services continues to grow.”
“The reality is that there is often significant value locked within existing facilities and sites. Rather than starting from scratch, providers are increasingly looking at how they can modernise, expand and repurpose existing assets to improve resident outcomes and increase capacity,” Mr Davy added.
Mr Davy said the Bulahdelah project showed how careful planning, design and construction could revitalise community infrastructure while maintaining local connections.
Stroud Community Care chairperson Karen Hutchinson said the redevelopment would strengthen aged care services in the region.
“The project is about restoring local access to quality care, providing a modern environment and ensuring older members of our community can remain connected to the people and places they know,” she said.
“We are committed to creating an environment that meets the needs of today’s residents while supporting the long-term sustainability of aged care services in the region.”
Coverite Projects Design Manager and Nominated Architect Megan Eiman said refurbishment projects provided an opportunity to improve both the resident experience and operational performance of aged care facilities.
“We believe great aged care design is about more than upgrading a building; it’s about creating places that feel welcoming, dignified and connected, where people can feel truly at home,” she added.
Coverite Projects operates as a multidisciplinary design and delivery partner for aged care providers, combining architecture, design, project management and construction expertise.
The company said its integrated approach allowed providers to identify opportunities within existing assets, plan staged redevelopment programs and deliver complex projects while maintaining continuity of care and operations.
The Bulahdelah redevelopment comes as aged care providers face increasing pressure to modernise ageing facilities while meeting growing demand for services, particularly in regional communities.
