Waste collection is delayed for Zone 1 (Kiama Heights/Gerroa) and Zone 2 (Kiama township) today (Monday 5 May) due to industrial action Council apologises for the delay and asks residents to put their bins out one day later than normal for collection from tomorrow (Tuesday 6 May) Kiama Municipal Council and Hall & Prior Aged Care today marked the settlement and transition of ownership of Blue Haven Bonaira Residential Aged Care Home Independent Living Units and associated services Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said this was a moment to reflect and feel proud of Council’s 40+ year involvement in aged care provision in our municipality “I hope our staff and our community feel pride in the facilities the services and the staff providing those services that we have delivered here at Blue Haven Bonaira and Blue Haven Terralong for many years.” “Blue Haven encapsulates Kiama Council’s strong history of caring for our community. That’s why when the previous Council resolved to sell Blue Haven Bonaira and that staff would retain their conditions and entitlements.” “It’s also because we care for our community that we’re handing over Bonaira to aged care specialists Hall & Prior and we warmly welcome the Hall & Prior team to our area,“ Mayor McDonald said Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior thanked Kiama Council residents and the Kiama community for their warm welcome to the neighbourhood “We’re absolutely delighted to take the reins at Blue Haven Bonaira We acknowledge the effort and spirit shown by Kiama Council and the wider community in creating and supporting this valued service over the years A sincere thank you to all the staff and executive team who have contributed to a smooth transition." “We’re excited about the future and committed to enhancing the services and facilities for residents and the broader community for many years to come we’ll soon begin a series of upgrades starting with improvements to the Independent Living Unit bathrooms and Barroul House,” said Mr Prior “We’re investing $1.2 million in refurbishments that we know residents have been looking forward to,” he continued “These works will elevate the offering at Barroul House and allow us to extend its opening hours giving even more people the chance to enjoy this special place." “We’ll also be completing a number of important maintenance tasks to ensure the facilities are operating at their best." “Our transition team has been on location at Bonaira on and off for the past few months working hard to ensure a smooth handover We hope any changes noticed by residents and their loved ones are positive We’re looking forward to getting started.” Photo: At the press conference announcing the settlement - Graeme Prior with resident representative Peter Hayes and Mayor Cameron McDonald Contact us Kiama Municipal Council acknowledges the Wodi Wodi people on Dharawal country as the traditional custodians of the land on which our Municipality is located. We pay our respects to Elders past We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land waters and seas and their rich contribution to our community Motorists are advised of changed overnight traffic conditions next week on Doyalson Link Rd between Blue Haven Way and the Pacific Hwy work will be carried out from 8pm on Monday May 6 and is expected to be completed in one night will be in place for the safety of workers and motorists Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control For more information on this work visit https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/224598, download the Live Traffic NSW App or call 132 701. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a07848884bc755295c17b0b593d01b33" );document.getElementById("efb1a04fa5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); I travel on the new trains daily from Woy Woy to Central and vice versa. I love the new trains apart from (the fact) they are absolutely freezing. I bought… Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club in Springwood St, Ettalong Beach, and Everglades Country Club in Dunban Rd, Woy Woy, have both submitted revised plans to Central Coast Council for significant improvements… Humpty Dumpty Foundation has sprung into action to help Central Coast Local Health District provide seven breast pumps for its midwifery and Aboriginal health services. The Pumped For Life Mother’s… Picture by Adam McLeanKiama Council has avoided the need to pay widespread redundancies to Blue Haven workers thanks to an Industrial Relations Commission ruling the Mercury understands that some council employees who elected not to transfer to the new owner did receive a redundancy payout When Hall & Prior was chosen as the buyer of Bonaira the council began negotiations on the terms that would be offered to those workers moving across The awards in operation include an entitlement to severance pay in the event of redundancy the employer may apply to the commission to be excused from making such a payment on the basis that it has obtained 'acceptable alternative employment' for the employee," the commission ruling stated A representative from Local Government NSW compared the existing awards to the deal offered by Hall & Prior and was satisfied employees "will experience the same or better conditions of employment when considered holistically" in the "limited circumstances" where the award provided better rates of pay the representative said they understood those rates would be kept in place for transferring workers Council's chief operating officer Joe Gaudiosi said in an affidavit that "no employee is disadvantaged in their rate of pay" "Council has also required Hall & Prior to ensure that employees will receive a salary increase on their total rate of pay when the enterprise agreement is renegotiated The commission was satisfied the council had found alternate employment for the Blue Haven workers and ruled that the redundancy pay is not required I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media Hall & Prior Aged Care would like to provide the Kiama community with an update regarding Blue Haven Bonaira Hall & Prior remains committed to completing the transition process over the coming weeks The majority of the Bonaira staff have accepted our offer of employment and we are excited to partner with them to continue the great care provided to all residents and clients We expect to receive all regulatory approvals from the Department of Health and Aged Care for the intended transfer of the Residential Aged Care and Home Care services in the next week or two Part of this approval will require that the Home Care services are transferred to Hall & Prior on the first calendar day of the month the intended transfer date of all Blue Haven Bonaira services to Hall & Prior is 1 April 2025 the Hall & Prior team will be onsite at Blue Haven Bonaira commercial completion and handover will occur and we will be responsible for all Bonaira operations In an Extraordinary Meeting on Thursday 6 March Kiama Council has agreed to a settlement date of 31 March 2025 Hall & Prior’s CEO Graeme Prior confirmed that his company was continuing to carry out its settlement preparation work ensuring the facility would meet the safety and high care standards of Hall & Prior’s other facilities in NSW “Hall & Prior and Kiama Municipal Council both remain committed to completion and we look forward to welcoming the Bonaira team to the Hall & Prior family in a few short weeks,” said Mr Prior residents and their loved ones for their patience and understanding as we continue to finalise all requirements necessary for the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira to Hall & Prior the care and wellbeing of staff and residents is of paramount importance,” said Mr Prior Download Hall & Prior's Media-Release.pdf(PDF, 169KB) Grass is Greener Marketing CommunicationsT: 0429 976 718E: lisa@gigmarketing.com.au  1. Note the correspondence from Hall & Prior on Tuesday 25 February 2025 seeking a final extension to settlement of the contract to 31 March 2025 and subsequent correspondence dated 5 March 2025 and received Thursday 6 March 2025; 2. Exercise its rights within the Sale Contract and pursuant to resolution 25/069OC from the extraordinary meeting on 24 February 2025 to accept the compensating payment from Hall & Prior for the further delay 3. Accept Hall & Prior’s irrevocable commitment to not seek any further delays or extensions to settlement beyond 31 March 2025; 4. Notwithstanding the irrevocable commitment above reserve its rights within the Sale Contract to further cost recovery should further delay requests be received; 5. Acknowledges the delay for the transfer approval of the Home Care Program by the Department of Health & Aged Care; 6. Notes the recent confirmation by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission regarding the staff transfer arrangements to Hall & Prior; 7. Requires Hall & Prior in conjunction with Council to prepare immediate communications to Bonaira residents and staff concerning this matter; and 8. Will work with Hall & Prior regarding an official opening event and public media on 1 April 2025 Today Kiama Council met with the three unions and agreed to meet in Kiama on Friday to discuss the matters that they have raised Blue Haven staff are under no obligation to sign the letters of offer until the negotiations with the unions are finalised Signing the letter of offer does not mean that staff waive the right to receive acceptable alternative employment as negotiated with each of the unions Staff who have already signed or who wish to sign the letter of offer will remain employees of Kiama Council until the applications to the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales are approved and that Council has secured acceptable alternative employment Kiama Council’s Blue Haven Community Transport program has been taken over by Coast and Country Community Services from today (2 December 2024) Coast and Country Community Services currently operates successfully in Shoalhaven City LGA Bega Valley Shire LGA and Young/Boorowa and Weddin areas “We’re pleased to welcome Coast and Country Community Services as it will ensure our community continues to receive reliable and high-quality transport services supporting both residents and staff across the region,” said Kiama Council Chief Operating Officer Joe Gaudiosi Blue Haven’s Community Transport was operated by Kiama Council on behalf of Transport NSW and was therefore divested separately to the rest of Blue Haven Bonaira 3 staff members and the majority of our volunteers Coast and Country Community Transport has set up an office in central Kiama from which to base their local operations.  The vehicles will be garaged at Kiama Council’s Works Depot for the time being “I’m sure all our Community Transport clients will make Coast and Country welcome and I wish everyone all the best with this new provider,” Mr Gaudiosi said All Blue Haven Community Transport clients have been informed about the switch over to a new provider.  For further information on the divestment, please visit our Blue Haven FAQs page.  Kiama Municipal Council has taken a significant step forward in the divestment of Blue Haven Bonaira to Hall & Prior Aged Care with Councillors unanimously endorsing the final letter of variation to the sale agreement at tonight's Council Meeting (in confidential session) The revised agreement adjusts the gross sale price from $95 million This adjustment reflects various building matters identified during the due diligence process which involved multiple engineering assessments to ensure the site met all necessary standards and building requirements.   The settlement for Blue Haven remains on track for February 2025 The adjusted price results in a surplus of $19 million from which Council’s $15 million TCorp debt will be cleared Kiama Council Mayor Cameron McDonald highlighted the importance of this milestone and provided further context for the adjusted sale price:  "I thank the Councillors for their collective decision to move the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira forward This has been a long and challenging process; any contract and sale of a going concern business this size Ultimately the adjustment to the price was necessary to reflect the reality of the building’s condition and the work required to address these issues,“ Cr McDonald said “This was not a decision made lightly but one that demonstrates our Council’s commitment to transparency and ensuring the best possible outcome for our community.” "This divestment is critical to our path toward financial sustainability as outlined in our Performance Improvement Order It allows Kiama Council to refocus on our core responsibility of delivering municipal services while ensuring Blue Haven Bonaira has the support it needs to thrive under Hall & Prior's experienced care." "To be frank I think this Council (and future councils) can learn significant lessons from this substantial project Areas for improvement include project management operational planning and improved reporting to Council on funding and variations.” “I’m pleased to see this transaction moving closer to settlement in February and I thank our staff and community for their patience and understanding,” Cr McDonald said Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior and his team were onsite at Blue Haven Bonaira this week to meet with staff and their families as part of the transition process Mr Prior said: "The Hall & Prior team enjoyed meeting with Blue Haven Bonaira staff and residents onsite and online to discuss matters that will ensure a seamless and respectful transition for staff we are focused on ensuring the sale process is handled with care This includes safeguarding the continuity of care and maintaining the high standards of service that residents Kiama Council has maintained transparency throughout the Blue Haven Bonaira divestment process providing regular updates via the Kiama Council and Blue Haven websites The sale of Blue Haven Bonaira marks a pivotal moment in ensuring a sustainable future for Kiama Council while retaining a large residential aged care facility in our municipality that ensures high-quality care for residents and a supportive workplace for staff.  Council has been aware of building issues and defects since completion of the Bonaira site in late 2019.  Council has worked to address issues as they arose and has fixed many of the issues These issues have been discussed and shared publicly many times with Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) and Independent Living Unit (ILU) residents As part of the due diligence process associated with the divestment further investigations and engineering assessments were conducted by both Hall & Prior and Kiama Council’s independent assessors These assessments uncovered additional building issues that require rectification across the site The defects have had a material impact on the value of the asset and have impacted residents and families living within the complex Hall & Prior has stated they will work hard to resolve building issues as the company assumes ownership Council resolved in July 2024 to commence legal recovery processes against the contractor that built Blue Haven Bonaira. The legal case is being compiled and is on foot Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said: “Our new Council came into office with a good awareness of the issues involved with the Blue Haven Bonaira build and associated project management.” “Any new Council or leadership team will face challenges associated with the legacy of prior decisions and Kiama is no different in this respect grateful for my fellow Councillors’ support in making the tough decisions that are needed and that are in the public interest and now we are focused on putting the past behind us getting on with business and moving forward for our whole community.” Lately we have become aware of some interesting stories circulating about Blue Haven Council recognises everyone’s right to their own opinion but we caution our community to be wary of unverified rumours and hearsay Here are some facts about our much-loved asset Blue Haven Terralong and Havilah Place: Council is not seeking to divest Blue Haven Terralong Village Status of former Residential Aged Care Facility and Havilah Place Council’s official position and spokespeople Council is committed to open and regular communications and engagement with a diverse variety of voices our community.  Kiama Municipal Council and Hall & Prior Aged Care today executed the contract for the sale of Blue Haven Bonaira with settlement to occur on 1 November this year.   This strategic agreement was endorsed at last night’s Ordinary Council Meeting and marks a significant step in improving the Council's financial position and ensuring the sustainability of its services for the community while also ensuring a positive outcome for staff and residents.   The decision to sell Blue Haven Bonaira follows a comprehensive tender process which then led to Council entering direct negotiations with Hall & Prior Aged Care a leading provider of aged care services across NSW and Western Australia.  This will be adjusted for certain liabilities that Hall & Prior will assume at settlement refundable accommodation deposits and Independent Living Unit (ILU) entry contributions sale proceeds are estimated to be $26 million.   The sale terms include a $1.2 million deposit with the remaining amount to be settled via two payments: the first due at settlement which is planned for 1 November of this year and the remainder due two years after settlement this outcome ensures that Kiama Council can repay the final $15 million of its TCorp loan.  Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly emphasised the sale to Hall & Prior Aged Care would continue to ensure the provision of high-quality care for residents while securing the Council's financial stability.  "This sale is a positive outcome for our community and our Council," Mayor Reilly said "It ensures that Blue Haven Bonaira continues to provide excellent care under the management of Hall & Prior Aged Care while also allowing us to focus on our financial sustainability and service delivery We have been working towards this for several years and have kept the community and relevant NSW Government Ministers informed every step of the way.”  Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior said that as a long-term operator of residential the group was looking forward to bringing their high-quality care programs to the Kiama community.  “We were attracted to the region as it aligned with our existing care programs in NSW and are looking forward to working with the Blue Haven team and community at large to ensure a smooth transition,” Mr Prior said.  Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud said staff were a critical consideration of the proposed sale as they are the key to continuity of service.  Kiama Council has approval to lodge an application in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to seek the transfer of staff to Hall & Prior Aged Care on terms that ensure they are no worse off and can transfer across seamlessly This application is being prepared and will be lodged shortly The Council will work closely with Hall & Prior Aged Care to protect staff entitlements and conditions.  Ms Stroud confirmed the fact that the sale price had been negatively affected by several key factors including building defects “These are not new concerns and Kiama Council has been upfront about these matters and the history of the myriad issues associated with the Blue Haven Bonaira build and the ongoing operational losses for three years,” Ms Stroud said.  “Council staff have worked diligently to document and address defects as they arose and to inform the public and residents of Blue Haven Bonaira.” “I am looking forward to supporting the staff of Blue Haven to transition safely and seamlessly to their new employer who is an expert in the field of aged care and to supporting the organisation post the divestment to refocus on core Council business and meet the NSW Government-imposed Performance Improvement Order.”  “Kiama Council has had a rich tradition in aged care but there is a bold future of the organisation in a new direction and I am relieved to see the service taken on by specialists in the industry,” Ms Stroud said.  Councillors also resolved to pursue legal action concerning the building defects Ms Stroud said the material impact of the defects on the asset's value cannot be ignored.   Hall & Prior Aged Care is aware of the defects having received all relevant information as part of the tender process and is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality care.  For further information, please contact Claire Doble, Manager Communications & Engagement, Kiama Council 0477 274 858 claire.doble@kiama.nsw.gov.au   About Kiama Municipal Council: Kiama Municipal Council is dedicated to providing high-quality services and initiatives that enhance the well-being and sustainability of the Kiama community Through strategic planning and community engagement the Council strives to meet the needs of its residents and ensure a prosperous future for all.  About Hall & Prior Aged Care: Hall & Prior Aged Care is a respected provider of aged care services committed to delivering compassionate and high-quality care to residents Hall & Prior Aged Care operates 36 facilities across Australia ensuring the well-being and dignity of all residents.   Photo: Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly (left) with Hall & Prior CEO Graeme Prior Current flood notices are in place for areas of the Central Coast, including Tuggerah Lake. Read more and follow our Facebook page  Performing Arts Centre of the Year in 2022 The visual arts culture of the Central Coast Have you or your family ever wanted to pick up a new hobby and be more active Sometimes all it takes is a new and exciting activity or a friendly and encouraging community to inspire you to ‘Get Active’.  Get Active – San Remo and Blue Haven is an exciting initiative developed in partnership between the Office of Sport and Central Coast Local Health District’s Health Promotion Service The program aims to encourage the community to find a new sport or recreation that will help them be more physically active foster social connection and build a stronger and healthier community.  Following extensive consultation with local community groups and organisations the Get Active campaign seeks to increase awareness of local sports and active recreation providers and facilities The Get Active campaign acts as an information hub for community members to discover the unique and interesting activities that San Remo Why not try action packed activities such as basketball there are a variety of activities for everyone To view the list of local sport and active recreation providers that are participating in the Get Active San Remo and Blue Haven campaign, go to Sport Central Coast.  Kiama Council is pleased to announce that the preferred tenderer for Blue Haven Bonaira is Hall & Prior Aged Care In this week’s Extraordinary Meeting the elected Council voted to proceed with Hall & Prior’s offer and begin drawing up a sales contract Hall & Prior Health and Aged Care Group is an established and leading provider of residential aged care retirement living and home care services in New South Wales and Western Australia Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly welcomed Hall & Prior to Kiama: “I’m glad to see Blue Haven Bonaira be acquired by a high-quality aged care provider who already operates a range of facilities in both NSW and Western Australia I welcome Hall & Prior to Kiama and the Illawarra region and look forward to a fruitful working relationship with them as we transition the business into their capable hands.” Graeme Prior said: “Our dedicated commitment to providing quality aged care and accommodation is our priority and we are excited to bring our experience to the residents of Blue Haven Bonaira and associated services We are looking forward to being part of the Illawarra region and having a long-term relationship with Kiama Council and the local community.” Hall & Prior currently operates 13 residential aged care homes across Sydney and regional New South Wales and 23 aged care homes in Western Australia Both Kiama Council and Hall & Prior share a focus on continuity of care and security of tenure for all residents and care recipients This commitment includes services in aged care it will go back to Council for endorsement This is currently expected to happen in July Following final agreement and completion of pre-settlement conditions both parties anticipate settlement in September 2024 Council and Blue Haven will continue to keep our residents and staff informed about the sale and transition process with regular updates Hall & Prior delivers award-winning care services via 36 residential aged care facilities 1,200 home care clients and 4 retirement villages with a team of more than 3,100 dedicated staff Further information about Hall & Prior can be found at www.hallprior.com.au Kiama Council continues to work towards solutions for its disused Residential Aged Care Home and the surrounding site at Havilah Place the former Residential Aged Care facility at Havilah Place is in an advanced state of dilapidation making the premises unsafe and unhealthy to enter or occupy A series of nightly break-ins occurred earlier in the year with thieves stealing electrical cables and piping which affected the electrical supply to the units in Blue Haven Terralong Village pipes being stolen have caused flooding at the site Council has appointed two security guards to monitor Havilah Place as we prepare the paperwork for a tender to demolish the building This work is expected to occur in the 25-26 financial year and has been budgeted for as part of adopting its Strategic Finance & Governance Improvement Plan in June 2024 resolved to progress the subdivision of the disused residential aged care home facility from the remainder of the Blue Haven Terralong site The subdivision plans will also ensure that the Kiama Community Garden is situated on community land rather than Blue Haven Terralong operational land Draft subdivision plans have been prepared by Council’s surveyors The finalisation of this subdivision will occur as part of Council’s catalyst sites program Council is working through all the above steps diligently and with due process and progress is being made.  Kiama Municipal Council acknowledges the Wodi Wodi people on Dharawal country as the traditional custodians of the land on which our Municipality is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to our community. which have just been answered by the council.Kiama Council was "at acute risk" of financial collapse thanks to the Blue Haven Bonaira facility All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe papers for Tuesday night's meeting contained a response to questions posed by former councillor Mark Croxford in July 2024 regarding the origins of the council's "financial mismanagement" The questions centred around the cost blowouts in the construction of the Bonaira aged care facility which had been approved in a previous term of the council Mr Croxford had asked whether the financial issues stemmed from the 2016-21 term of council or an earlier period The response said some of the matters affecting the council "existed for decades" but the decision to build Bonaira compounded the issue "What is evident is that the costs of embarking on a major capital project such as Blue Haven Bonaira together with council's lack of adequate operational planning for the Blue Haven project and the business's insufficient and immature accounting and financial practices meant that the Blue Haven project placed the financial solvency of the organisation at acute risk," the response stated There was also "project management immaturity" in the council at the time of the Bonaira construction This included not having an operational or strategic plan in place no clear plans on how state government loans would be repaid poor reporting on budget blowouts and no separate ledgers for council and Blue Haven Mr Croxford had also asked why the "significant payouts" to the general manager at the time and others had not been made public The council response noted the general manager's payout was still subject to a confidentiality agreement and said the 2022 forensic audit "outlined a concern with contract payouts sign-off/process" "To speculate on intentions of prior general managers is simply not appropriate and may bring the organisation into disrepute," the response stated "As stated on many occasions verbally and in public documents much good work has been done in the past by many former and current staff In response to Mr Croxford's question about what actions could be taken against those identified as responsible for the financial mismanagement the council listed a series of measures undertaken since the problems with the finances came to light This included self-reporting to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in 2022 with ICAC replying that no investigations would be undertaken Issues with signing in? Click here Need help signing in? co-founders of the single family office Blue Haven Initiative trailblazed the total-portfolio approach to impact investing View all events > Your email address is already registered with us. Click here to receive a verification link and login. Don't have an account? Click here to register Please check your spam or junk folder just in case At today’s Extraordinary Council Meeting Kiama Council reached a significant milestone in the divestment of its aged care business Blue Haven Bonaira Council voted to endorse and agree to the broad parameters of the sale and delegated for the CEO to prepare final contracts for the Blue Haven Bonaira site and associated services (excluding Community Transport) and to bring back to the July Ordinary Meeting for execution that a joint media statement between Council and the preferred tenderer will be released later this week Mayor of Kiama Neil Reilly thanked the Councillors “We have today achieved a significant milestone in our two-year journey to divest Blue Haven Bonaira I want to assure everyone that we do not take this decision lightly Each step of the process has been worked through with meticulous detail hours of briefings and debate among the Councillors and other stakeholders.” “I look forward to our next announcement where we will share the news about who Council selected to transfer ownership of Blue Haven Bonaira to our staff and residents in the facility are keen to know and we are just days away from that shared statement it has been a long and complex road but we are very nearly there!” Cr Reilly said Also tabled at the Extraordinary Meeting was the varied Performance Improvement Order The Performance Improvement Order (PIO) outlines a range of financial and governance issues that our Council must address and which we have been working on for some time now the Blue Haven Bonaira divestment being one of them alongside Council’s financial management and our financial accounting and management systems “We thank Minister Hoenig for the varied PIO and will continue to prioritise our work on the actions required to be undertaken by Kiama Municipal Council over the following 3 financial years to improve its operating performance” Council has committed to report on the status of the implementation of all actions outlined in the PIO via bi-monthly reports to the Minister and Office of Local Government These reports will also go to Council and be available to the public via the business papers Council has been working through a divestment process for its aged care business In early 2022 since this current Council was sworn in and made aware of significant going concern and longer-term sustainability issues around our finances Kiama’s Councillors and staff have been working diligently to address these matters The divestment of Blue Haven Bonaira has formed a large part of this work Council voted unanimously to proceed with the Blue Haven Bonaira divestment (subject to a reclassification of the land) The land was reclassified in the middle of last year and we went out to tender in October resulted in Council declining all tenders and opting to negotiate with the preferred tenderer Today's resolution means Council proceeds a step further towards the divestment Blue Haven FAQs Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHall & Prior owns 23 aged care facilities in Western Australia and 13 in NSW The Blue Haven Bonaira site will be its first in the Illawarra "We are looking forward to being part of the Illawara region and having a long-term relationship with Kiama Council and the local community," Hall & Prior's CEO Graeme Prior said The council made the decision to accept the Hall & Prior offer at an extraordinary meeting on Monday and commence drawing up a contract, after voting to sell the Bonaira site back in October 2022 "After two and a half years of external pressure we've overcome all that to secure our financial future," Mayor Neil Reilly said it will go back to council for endorsement Council and Hall & Prior expect settlement to occur in September this year following final agreement and completion of pre-settlement conditions Kiama Mayor Neil Reilly has said it was a "good thing" that the ownership of Bonaira was changing "I'm excited to see our beloved Blue Haven Bonaira be acquired by a high-quality aged care provider who already operates a range of facilities in both NSW and Western Australia," Cr Reilly said "I welcome Hall & Prior to Kiama and the Illawarra region and look forward to a fruitful working relationship with them as we transition the business into their capable hands." Pre-polling venues opened across the Central Coast on Saturday with reports of brisk activity at some stations A full list of early voting venues across the Central Coast can be found below Seven out of the ten locations are fully wheelchair accessible according to information from the NSW Electoral Commission The Returning Office at Pioneer Ave Tuggerah is NOT a prepolling site Lots of people turning up to the Pioneer drive prepolling station as stated above only to find a sign on the door stating it is NOT thank you – their original map had them down as a prepolling station The Tuggerah location is not a prepoll location The amount of people going to this Location because you’ve published it is ridiculous and such a waste of everyone’s time As journalists you have a responsibility to publish accurate information so please do better We corrected this as soon as we had the tips we had from the public were confirmed I travel on the new trains daily from Woy Woy to Central and vice versa I love the new trains apart from (the fact) they are absolutely freezing Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club in Springwood St have both submitted revised plans to Central Coast Council for significant improvements… Humpty Dumpty Foundation has sprung into action to help Central Coast Local Health District provide seven breast pumps for its midwifery and Aboriginal health services Kiama Municipal Council and Hall & Prior Aged Care have today executed the contract for the sale of the Blue Haven Bonaira aged care facility for $95 million The strategic agreement was endorsed at last night’s Ordinary Council Meeting and marks a significant step in improving the Council’s financial position and ensuring the sustainability of its services for the community while also ensuring a positive outcome for staff and residents “This sale is a positive outcome for our community and our Council,” the Mayor said “It ensures that Blue Haven Bonaira continues to provide excellent care under the management of Hall & Prior Aged Care “We have been working towards this for several years and have kept the community and relevant NSW Government Ministers informed every step of the way.” The decision to sell Blue Haven Bonaira follows a tender process a provider of aged care services across NSW and Western Australia The agreed sale price of $95 million will be adjusted for certain liabilities that Hall & Prior will assume at settlement sale proceeds are estimated to be $26 million this outcome ensures that Kiama Council can repay the final $15 million of its TCorp loan Jane Stroud said the sale price had been negatively affected by several key factors including building defects “These are not new concerns and Kiama Council has been upfront about these matters and the history of the myriad issues associated with the Blue Haven Bonaira build and the ongoing operational losses for three years,” Ms Stroud said “Council staff have worked diligently to document and address defects as they arose and to inform the public and residents of Blue Haven Bonaira.” Graeme Prior said the group was looking forward to bringing their high-quality care programs to the Kiama community “We were attracted to the region as it aligned with our existing care programs in NSW and are looking forward to working with the Blue Haven team and community at large to ensure a smooth transition,” Mr Prior said The Council has approval to lodge an application in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to seek the transfer of staff to Hall & Prior Aged Care on terms that ensure they are no worse off and can transfer across seamlessly This application is being prepared and will be lodged shortly The Council says it will work closely with Hall & Prior Aged Care to protect staff entitlements and conditions “I am looking forward to supporting the staff of Blue Haven to transition safely and seamlessly to their new employer and to supporting the organisation post the divestment to refocus on core Council business and meet the NSW Government-imposed Performance Improvement Order,” said Ms Stroud “Kiama Council has had a rich tradition in aged care but there is a bold future of the organisation in a new direction and I am relieved to see the service taken on by specialists in the industry.” Ms Stroud said the material impact of the defects on the asset’s value cannot be ignored and is committed to addressing these issues and ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality care Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au A Kiama Council plan said the sale process was "challenged by political and union campaigns" Picture by Robert PeetThe decision to build Blue Haven Bonaira had been named as the source of Kiama council's financial woes Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt also suggested protests about the planned sale of the facility may have driven down the price - part of a paragraph Cr Kathy Rice said was "politically motivated" At an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday the Strategic Finance and Governance Improvement Plan was tabled The plan was a requirement of a revised performance improvement order and outlined the steps that will be taken to bring the council back into sustainability The plan lays the blame for the current financial straits of the council to the decision to build the Bonaira aged care facility "Council's current financial situation primarily arose due to council's decision to invest $58 million into a new large aged care and retirement village site," the plan stated "The capital costs blew out to the value of $107 million with internal operational funds being used to fund shortfalls and inadequate public reporting to the community to the elected body or to relevant state agencies." Elsewhere in the plan, it made mention of opposition to the sale, which had been voted on by councillors "This process has been challenged by political and union campaigns," the plan said "These activities have had a real and material impact on the value of [the] asset and service and have caused significant reputational damage to the council "That situation is a sad reflection of a council that is trying to make deliberate financial choices informed by data and that is trying to correct the situation without further state interventions or in fact loss of democratically elected representatives." Cr Rice objected to the tone of the paragraph and felt it needed to be cut out I have an issue with that because the paragraph itself is politically motivated," Cr Rice said "It's not factually balanced and it apportions blame She said there was "no evidence whatsoever that the representations to sell were a political campaign" Cr Rice put forward an amendment that would change the paragraph to read "Following continued opposition and disruptions over a period of two years council has resolved to divest of its aged care services on the Bonaira site and is currently in negotiations with a preferred tenderer." Mayor Neil Reilly said the words in the original paragraph sounded familiar and CEO Jane Stroud confirmed they had been sent in a submission to the federal government Because the council had already approved those words Mayor Reilly ruled the amendment out of order Speaking to the original motion to approve the plan Cr Matt Brown the performance improvement order would not have been issued if "everything was working according to plan" "A lot of important decisions have been made and and some very difficult decisions have been made but we have done a lot of work," Cr Brown said Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school Skills NSW helps post high school students find courses in vocational training across a wide variety of industries and course providers The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support This case study was originally published 22 July 2019 Blue Haven demonstrated rapid and substantial growth in student academic performance in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Analysis of value-added data shows that in 2016 the school was in the bottom 10% of schools in the state for value-added and in 2018 Blue Haven has participated in the Early Action for Success The work underway at the school aligns strongly with the department's strategic plan The Blue Haven case study examines those aspects of practice that the school believes have been most influential in the rapid and substantial growth in student academic performance in the past three years students and parents of Blue Haven Public School for their participation in this case study Particular thanks to Paul McDermott (Principal); Dale Edwards (Deputy Principal); Michael Pratt (Deputy Principal Wellbeing); Kristy West and Amy Quilty (Deputy Principals Instructional Leadership); Cara Tynan (Assistant Principal Instructional Leadership); Jeanette Frost (former Deputy Principal Instructional Leadership); Brent Dawes (teacher) and Rachel Smart (parent) Special thanks also to the teachers who generously invited us into their classrooms to observe a lesson - Sam Anderson The Blue Haven Public School – evidence-based practice case study resource explores effective evidence-based practices implemented at Blue Haven Public School Blue Haven demonstrated rapid and substantial growth in student academic performance in NAPLAN The appropriate time to use this resource may differ for each school Email feedback about this resource to info@cese.nsw.gov.au using subject line ‘Re: Blue Haven Public School – evidence-based practice case study’. You can also subscribe to the CESE newsletter and connect with us on Yammer Alignment to system priorities and/or needs: NSW Department of Education Strategic Plan 2018-2022: ‘Every student is engaged and challenged to continue to learn every leader and every school improves every year’ Alignment to School Excellence Framework: Learning domain – learning culture Teaching domain – learning and development Leading domain – educational leadership; school planning Alignment with other existing frameworks: What works best – high expectations Australian Professional Standards for Teachers – Standards 1.1 Created/last updated: Originally published 22 July 2019 To be reviewed: CESE publications are prepared through a rigorous process Resources are reviewed periodically as part of an ongoing evaluation plan We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education Take me back Contact us on: 01 564 7963 / 01 564 7964 Online queries digital@thegloss.ie Print queries letters@thegloss.ie Home | Food & Wine | My Foodie Weekend: Meeran Manzoor Executive Head Chef at The Blue Haven Collection and Rare by all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Ireland’s diverse landscapes.” where we get the ji gong bao (spicy clay pot chicken) We love this dish so much that we drove to Dublin several times during my wife’s pregnancy as she was craving it constantly It’s served in a huge clay pot with bone-in chicken pieces simmered in a chilli garlicky sauce with fresh Szechuan peppercorns with a side of fried rice … delish!” so that’s one for the future.” “I love wandering around all sorts of specialised cuisine supermarkets I always find Chinese supermarkets very exciting but I end up buying so much every single time I love going into the English Market to pick up cheeses made locally Walking around this market gives a vibe that is unmatched.” “Rum spiced mango lassi hits the right notes cinnamon or even a hint of nutmeg elevate the drink refreshing yet slightly indulgent cocktail for a flavourful moment.” SEE MORE: Kasha Connolly At Hazel Mountain Chocolate’s Culinary Wishlist All the usual great, glossy content of our large-format magazine in a neater style delivered to your door. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNEWLAND, N.C. (WBTV) - One Western North Carolina community broke ground Friday on a new housing development that will benefit families impacted by Hurricane Helene Country music star Eric Church joined North Carolina Gov Josh Stein and more community partners on Friday April 11 to break ground on the new area that will be known as Blue Haven The Avery County community development is expected be available to people and families impacted by the deadly 2024 storm “Dignity and community are key to the long-term success of the blueprint,” Church said “This is a generational shift in a response to a generational disaster like Helene.” The Blue Haven development in Avery County will have 40-45 modern e-built homes that will be built by Clayton Homes It’s part of the region’s ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Helene “We have come so far in such a short time,” said Ruth Shirley with Avery Long Term Recovery ---> Related: Avery County bridges get extra help from local group post-Helene Church and his wife started the nonprofit Chief Cares which has helped communities affected by natural disasters Stein said events like Friday’s groundbreaking bring hope to the community anytime we can do something to show people that we’re gonna get through this and there is a brighter future ahead -- it means so much to people.” This is the first community to break ground in Avery County and reportedly marks the start of more developments that are expected to help the region rebuild “We’re trying to draw down the money from the federal government in the state government as quickly as we can so that we can get homes on the ground so families can move in,” Stein said Church’s nonprofit has also pledged to help families with housing expenses to help them live affordably for up to three years Families will also have the option to purchase their homes within the developed communities Church spoke Friday about the importance of all these pieces coming together “The amazing people of the mountains who have given their hands to their neighbors in a time of need and in a time of crisis this is what makes us who we are,” Church said “We’re attempting something that has never been done but it has the potential to affect the lives of so many -- and we’re doing it together.” The hope is that families will be able to move into Blue Haven by the end of this summer ---> Related: Remains of missing Avery County camper found 6 months after Helene