Seniors Housing & Healthcare Trends

LOS ANGELES: Construction is set to start on a new community hub on an old hospital site.

The transformation of the old Byron Bay hospital into a new community hub is due to be finished by April next year.

Byron Shire Council will fork out another $650,000 to build the $6.5 million project on 10-12 Shirley St, with construction due to start in August.

NSW Health sold the former hospital site to the council for just $1 in 2019.

Community services organisation Social Futures will manage the new hub when it opens.

The hub is due to focus on education, mental health support and youth services.

A commercial zone is set to have a professional space for business use.

Social Housing CEO Tony Davies said the hub in the heart of town was much-needed.

“Community organisations struggle to find affordable space in town to deliver services for the community, so people often have to travel outside of the Shire to access services and support,” he said.

“We hope that this will increase the range of what can be offered locally to the Byron community.”

Social Futures has created a community advisory group with 11 members, including Arakwal traditional owners, businesspeople and creatives.

“They are a wonderful and wise cross-section of the Byron Bay community,” he said.

“We know their advice will be invaluable in setting up a dynamic community hub.”

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said the hub would mean more support services for Byron residents.

“Byron Bay caters very well for tourists but support for the people who live and work in the town, attend local schools, support local sporting clubs and work in businesses, is thin on the ground,” he said.

“Until now we have been dealing with plans and concepts but that is all about to change and it is very exciting.”

The original hospital closed in 2016 after the new Byron Central Hospital opened its doors.