A golf day in Dubbo has made it possible for the city’s peak business organisation and a prominent real estate agency to chip a little more money into the kitty of under-construction Macquarie Home Stay.
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The $4 million stage one of the patient accommodation project is powering towards a spring opening.
Dubbo Chamber of Commerce president Matt Wright, the chamber’s members services officer Toni Beatty and Bob Berry Real Estate property manager Fiona Gibbs met Macquarie Home Stay managing director Rod Crowfoot on its east Dubbo construction site this week. They handed Mr Crowfoot a cheque for $1000 and checked out project plans.
Mr Wright said the recent Bob Berry Real Estate Dubbo Chamber of Commerce Golf Day had involved fundraising at a “couple of holes”. About $750 was raised and the team at Bob Berry Real Estate asked to decide where it should go. Mr Wright said the agency had bumped the $750 to $1000 and nominated Macquarie Home Stay.
At the presentation Mrs Gibbs said it was a “worthwhile recipient”. “The sooner we get it up and going, the better,” she said. “It’s a great asset for the city.”
Mr Crowfoot has thanked the business community for backing Macquarie Home Stay and confirmed speedy progress in the construction of two buildings under stage one development. “MAAS Constructions are progressing well with the build,” he said. “With the slabs done and framework commenced there are real signs of their progress. To see the number of local trades on-site daily making our dream and vision one step closer is an exciting time.”
A $3.3 million grant from the state government’s Restart NSW Cobbora Transition Fund has expedited the building of stage one of Macquarie Home Stay which will also utilise sponsorships, and donations from across the region that relies on Dubbo Hospital
“When stage one opens later this year, 14 families will stay with us each and every night,” Mr Crowfoot said. “These guests will have somewhere safe, affordable and comfortable to stay while they prepare for admission or post treatment and before heading home.”
Mr Crowfoot said in a month the facility’s framework would be completed, external cladding and roofing installed and its internal fit-out under way.
“Each week that passes is a week closer to opening the doors, which is expected to be in spring,” he said.
The Macquarie Home Stay board will need continuing support from Dubbo and the western region to build stages two and three by 2020 when the hospital’s planned integrated cancer centre is expected to be operating.