The $4.5 million stage one of community-driven Macquarie Home Stay is expected to be completed in a couple of months and greet its first guests on December 1.
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It will be officially opened at the end of November with managing director Rod Crowfoot keen to thank sponsors and donors at the event.
Macquarie Home Stay is an accommodation facility for regional residents needing somewhere to stay before and/or after treatment at Dubbo Hospital.
Stage one of the facility in east Dubbo was made possible by a state government grant of $3.3 million.
Macquarie Home Stay’s master plan includes three stages but Mr Crowfoot has not ruled out the need for a fourth.
“We are particularly focused at the moment on trying to attract capital funding to build stages two and three,” he said.
“We’re looking towards getting stage two and three on line and ready by the end of 2020 when the Western Cancer Centre opens.
“Then we would look at occupancy rates and if there are people we can’t help and there are enough of them, we would look at going for stage four.”
Mr Crowfoot talked of up to 70 guest rooms becoming available in the next few years.
Stage one features a self-catering kitchen, common areas and 14 guest rooms including two “accessible” rooms for people with disabilities and four rooms for people using the likes of walking frames.
The u-shaped building has “country style” with external walls made from galvanised iron sheets.
Black frames match the perimeter fence that is almost complete. Guests will be issued with a swipe card to get though fencing close to the facility.
Mr Crowfoot said each room, with tinted windows, built-in wardrobe and bathroom, would have king single beds, armchairs, a small dining table and chairs, fridge, ceiling fan and a television mounted on the wall.
Next to the accommodation facility is an administration block which in time will be joined by a workshop.
Landscaping will get under way next month.
As stage one has progressed Mr Crowfoot has visited hospitals and and multipurpose services in communities such as Brewarrina, Bourke, Cobar and Nyngan.
“They are particularly excited about being able to refer patients down to us,” he said.
Mr Crowfoot said most guests would be eligible for support from IPTAAS ( Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme).
“We’ll look to claim the IPTAS component ourselves so guests will only have to make a small gap payment,” he said.
Bookings can be made by accessing contact details at http://www.macquariehomestay.com.au.