PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has approved a development application for major extensions to Rotary Lodge, which will cost about $2 million.
The council approved the application last week after lengthy negotiations regarding the acquisition of land near the existing lodge.
Rotary Lodge started with six units catering for cancer patients at the base hospital, as well as the relatives of accident victims.
The lodge, adjacent to the base hospital, was soon found to be in need of major extensions and was expanded to 24 units.
David Symons, the vice-chairman of the board running the lodge, said he was “over the moon” at the news of the council approval.
“After the last extension to the lodge the board felt we needed to look to the future as we had no more land available,” Mr Symons said.
“Acting on a suggestion, we entered into a discussion with Ian Russell at council about acquiring that portion of Wright Road adjoining the lodge.
“After many meetings and negotiations with then Minister for Lands Tony Kelly, and the council, we finally got some indication that the council would sell us the land.
“Following this we started on the design of the project which included the ecological, and environmental studies together with an arborist’s report – at great cost, I might add.
“Finally, after numerous meetings with the pre-submission panel of council and the valuable assistance of King and Campbell, we had arrived at the point where we had addressed all concerns and the DA was approved.”
Mr Symons said it was made more urgent by the announcement of the extension to the base hospital and the doubling in size of the Cancer Institute.
“We would also like to commend the council staff for their support and to the councillors for their assistance,” he said.
The idea for a lodge here came from Ron Walesby, acting on the idea of a similar lodge in Tamworth.
The extensions will comprise another 23 units.
The board does not yet have sufficient funds to complete the next stage, but it is confident the money will be raised over a reasonable period.
The cost will be about $2 million.
The lodge’s board comprises representatives of the five Rotary clubs in the Port Macquarie area.
Many, or most, of the people using the lodge come from areas out of Port Macquarie and fund-raising efforts will include those places.
