Construction starts on Tumbella Drive nursing home

Schiavello will build and RSL Care SA will run the $22 million, 72-bed Romani residential aged care facility.

Peri Strathearn

Aug 4, 2021 — 2 min read

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Construction workers have cleared and levelled out a Tumbella Drive, Murray Bridge block where a nursing home will be built. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Construction work has started on what will be Murray Bridge’s third nursing home.

The $22 million, 72-bed residential aged care facility on Tumbella Drive will be named Romani, and run by RSL Care SA.

The organisation’s CEO, Nathan Klinge, said construction company Schiavello would spend about 18 months on site.

“We hope to get it finished by the start of ‘23, COVID pending,” he said.

“It takes lot of work (to build a nursing home), from its conception with the board to visualising it and eventually operating the service.

“I look forward to cutting the ribbon and opening the place.”

When completed, the Romani residential aged care facility will provide a home to up to 72 elderly residents. Image: RSL Care SA.

The facility would have the same residential capacity RSL Care had envisioned all along, he said, despite the federal government announcing this week that the organisation had been granted six extra bed licences.

That was just an on-paper move, he said – RSL Care had transferred six bed licences to another facility since Romani was approved, and had now gained new licences to replace them.

Tumbella Drive residents will surely watch progress on the project with interest, as a number had concerns about the nursing home being built on a back street in a residential area.