Lara’s Manager Kerri Wagner said the work will see the existing 63 rooms plus an additional one, all become single rooms with an en suite.

“This is an enormously positive project for Dungog,” she said.

“The outcome will be sensational.”

The work started at the end of June and is expected to be complete in May or June of next year.

Woollam Constructions won the tender for the work and Ms Wagner said she was pleased to see the company was using many local tradespeople on the project.

Lara has been Dungog’s aged care facility since 1990 when the community first started the centre and it merged forces with RSL LifeCare last year.

“The (renovation) project has been planned for some time and the merging agreement with RSL LifeCare was that the money would be spent here,” said Ms Wagner

“Consumers expect higher care now, it is not appropriate to share a room. 

“These new rooms are bright, fresh and modern for our residents.

“From a work health and safety aspect is will be easier for our staff to care for residents.

“It’s a huge benefit which will make the facility viable into the future.”

The renovations will also mean low and high care rooms are not separated into different wings in keeping with the new model of aged care.

Ms Wagner praised the residents and community for their patience during the massive project.

“People have been wonderful,” she said.

“There has been some noise and disruption, with things like concrete saws, it’s such a huge project with both demolition and rebuilding on the one site,” she said.

“We let people know what is happening every week so staff and visitors are kept informed and the plans of the project in the foyer have prompted lots of conversation.

“It’s a real credit to our community in years gone by that Dungog has its own aged care facility.”

Six rooms have already been completed with residents already settled in.