Early Works Commence on the ‘new’ Pioneers Lodge

After many months of planning and detailed design the early works to pave the way for the new Public Sector Residential Aged Care Facility at NCN Health Numurkah began on October 21. The new facility will eventually replace the current Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge Building, which is nearly 50 years old.

The Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) who are an arm of the Department of Health, are leading this project in collaboration with NCN Health.

Land acquisition negotiations were recently finalised and NCN Health has appointed Crow Constructions to manage the early works of this project. This includes the demolition of several dwellings on Hurley Court, general site clean-up and preparation. This is expected to take 2 – 3 weeks in total.

The plans for the new residential aged care are in the final detailed design phase, with floor plans in pace and architectural drawings complete.

The detailed design must consider the recommendations from the National Aged Care Design Principals and Guidelines which were created as a result of the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

Once finalized, the plans will go to tender in November for a builder to be appointed and construction of the new facility will begin in mid-2026.

Designed with residents’ privacy, dignity and independence front of mind, the facility will feature single bedrooms, each with a private ensuite. The facility will be divided into smaller households, each with its own dedicated kitchen, dining and lounge areas, giving residents the choice to socialise or enjoy quiet time.

In addition to modern living spaces, the new building will include shared facilities such as a café, personal care room, activity room and reflection room, alongside outdoor areas for residents and their families to enjoy.

Natural light and views of the surrounding landscape have been prioritised throughout the design to create a calm, home-like environment. It will also feature dementia-friendly design and provide a more modern, efficient and safer working environment for staff.

The project is being delivered as part of the Labor government’s Better Aged Care for Regional Victorians program, which is progressively replacing older facilities with purpose-built homes that meet community expectations and ensure residents can age in place, even as their care needs increase.

NCN Health Operations Manager Bronti O’Connor said NCN Health staff are excited to see some action at the new site.

“This is a significant project and a lot of work in design and consultation has been happening behind the scenes. We are really excited to see some tactile works happening on site and to have the project move forward into the tender process. We expect actual construction to start in 2026. Once the build has commenced, NCN Health will be better placed to share timelines of the build and an expected completion date. We also hope to be able to share some 3D images of the new facility, including shared spaces and rooms in the coming weeks.”