Residents devastated by Feros’ plans to redevelop

Photo & story Eve Jeffery

With the Feros Care Board announcing to residents and families the closure of Feros Village Byron Bay last Tuesday, questions are being raised around the board’s decision to redevelop the large and valuable Byron Bay land as an ‘intergenerational community’.

Plans are now underway to redevelop Feros, located at 29-33 Marvell Street, into a new, ‘state-of-the-art community, purpose-built facility’.

It comes just weeks after a damning performance report on the facility; the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) found its elderly residents were subjected to substandard care across every aspect of the service.

The board claimed at the time that the issues had been rectified and that the facility has been reaccredited by the ACQSC.

And while all current residents have been offered relocation to Feros Care Bangalow, or Feros Care Wommin Bay, there are no guarantees by the board that they will be given priority to return to their home when a new facility opens.

Residents will be re-homed over the coming months, says the board.

The board also say staff have been offered employment at other Feros Care Villages or in Feros’ Home Care service.

Yet some Feros residents, families and friends are distressed and angry at what they say are lies and betrayal by the Feros Care Board, and have said they are not going anywhere.

Ninety-five-year-old Kate Smorty had a letter published in last week’s