Community Shapes Future Vision for Kookaburra Court

Published on 06 June 2025

The future of Kookaburra Court took a step forward last night, as 27 residents gathered at the Walgett CWA Rooms for a town hall discussion on how they would like the former aged care facility to serve the community moving forward.

Chaired by Council’s Director of Community and Planning, Anthony Doyle and attended by Councillor Jo Coleman and Interim General Manager Andrew Brown, the session brought together strong community voices with a shared interest in finding a practical and meaningful outcome for the currently unused facility.

Mr Doyle opened the meeting by acknowledging the strong and passionate community participation during the March consultation sessions, noting the clear call for a single public meeting.  “This meeting is about looking forward, not back and finding a clear pathway for the future of Kookaburra Court,” Mr Doyle said.

The discussion began with reflections on the former aged care home, which many community members still viewed as a preferred option. However, it was recognised that this model is no longer viable for a facility the size of Kookaburra Court, largely due to recent changes in aged care regulations and the high operational demands now required.

From there, the conversation moved to current challenges faced by older residents in the Shire. While many are still capable of living independently, there is a growing need for accommodation that provides a safe, manageable environment with some level of day-to-day support in terms of cooking, cleaning and property maintenance.

Attendees strongly supported exploring independent living options, including a group home-style arrangement within the existing building, with potential future expansion to one-bedroom units on the surrounding land.

There was clear agreement that any future use of the site must be financially sustainable, meet community needs and avoid adding strain to Council’s resources and assets.

Next Steps

The General Manager will prepare a report for the Ordinary Council Meeting to be held on the 24 June 2025, outlining the community consensus that Council should expedite an investigation into using the facility as accommodation for elderly self-care residents. The report will also include a commitment for the General Manager to return to Council within five months with options for the site to be operated by an external provider, a community-run organisation, or Council itself.

In the meantime, as recommended by some community members, Council will consider using the facility for short-term accommodation for nurses, doctors, first responders and Council staff while the investigation is carried out and a final report is prepared for Council’s consideration.

Mr Brown thanked the community for their feedback and highlighted the shared importance of balancing community needs with financial sustainability.

“Council recognises how vital Kookaburra Court is to the community and we are committed to exploring sustainable options that support our ageing residents while remaining financially viable,” Mr Brown said. “This will not be resolved overnight, but we are taking the necessary first steps.”

Council would like to thank the Walgett Shire community and to those who may no longer live here but still hold the community close, for their valuable input and continued support in shaping the future of Kookaburra Court.

Still want to have your say?

Community members can continue to provide feedback via:

Email: admin@walgett.nsw.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 31, Walgett NSW 2832
Phone: 02 6828 6100

Media Contact
Sherisse Fensom
Manager Communications and Corporate Reporting
Walgett Shire Council
0447 572 956
sfensom@walgett.nsw.gov.au