OAKESHOTT INDEPENDENT

STATE FUNDING FOR DEMENTIA SERVICES STILL AVAILABLE

Independent MP for Port Macquarie, Robert Oakeshott, today confirmed the continued availability of up to $1.5 million of State funding for improved dementia services for Port Macquarie, so long as council get their paperwork sorted.

"Council need to get the location for the service sorted out, they need to get the business model sorted out, and then the State is ready, willing and able to provide the much-needed $1.5 million to support the project, said Mr Oakeshott.

"This is good news, as there were some local concerns that the funding may be lost. This is simply not the case, as confirmed today by the Minister, Mr Oakeshott said.

"Having said that, it is not as simple to say the funding is guaranteed. Council still has work to do on developing the business model that they have been requested to provide, and obviously, to sort out the new location for the Centre now that the Greenmeadows site has been ruled out. Once these are done, however, we are in an excellent position to secure funding immediately, said Mr Oakeshott.

"This is important funding and the Department for Ageing is making all relevant officers available to Council to get these local issues resolved, so that funding can be allocated. I hope to see a resolution to this in the coming two months, Mr Oakeshott said today.

3 April 2008