IRT to add 48 aged care beds at Marco Polo Unanderra as Illawarra hospital pressure mounts

IRT Group has commenced a major refurbishment of its Marco Polo Unanderra Residential Care Home, with the project set to deliver 48 new aged care beds by early 2027 and help relieve persistent hospital bed block across the Illawarra.

The works follow approval of a modified Development Application by Wollongong City Council and mark the first stage of a broader upgrade of the Marco Polo Unanderra site, including the St Johns and St Lukes wings and Cordeaux Lodge.

IRT chief executive Ross Gallagher said the refurbishment represents a significant investment in the region’s health and aged care infrastructure.

“The refurbishment will deliver modern, high-quality aged care accommodation for older people in our community, including additional high-care and dementia-support rooms,” Mr Gallagher said.

“Just as importantly, it will help address the ongoing pressure on local hospitals by enabling older patients who no longer require acute care to transition into residential care more quickly.”

Hospital bed block remains a critical pressure point

Hospitals across the Illawarra and NSW South Coast continue to experience high levels of bed block driven by a shortage of suitable aged care places. The flow-on effects are well documented: longer hospital stays for older patients and reduced capacity for acute admissions.

The issue is estimated to be costing the region around $86 million each year, with between 100 and 150 older patients waiting in hospital daily for an aged care bed.

IRT says the additional beds at Marco Polo Unanderra will play a practical role in easing this pressure, while improving outcomes for older people and their families.

Government funding unlocks stalled capacity

The refurbishment is supported by a $15.8 million grant through the Australian Government’s Aged Care Capital Assistance Program, announced in September 2024.

“We’re grateful for the trust the Government has placed in us to deliver much-needed aged care beds for the region,” Mr Gallagher said.

“The funding allows us to reopen previously closed parts of the building and significantly lift the quality of residential aged care for older people in our local community.”

The project will be delivered by contractor SHAPE, with IRT working alongside residents, families and staff to manage disruption during construction.

“We know refurbishment works can be challenging in an operating care home,” Mr Gallagher said. “We’re taking a careful, staged approach to ensure residents remain safe, comfortable and well supported throughout.”

Two-stage upgrade to fast-track delivery

Stage one will focus on fitting out the currently unoccupied St Johns and St Lukes wings, delivering 48 new resident rooms with private ensuites, alongside upgraded communal areas, services, kitchen and laundry facilities.

Stage two, funded by IRT, will see the refurbishment of Cordeaux Lodge delivered concurrently. The works will progressively upgrade 80 resident rooms, ensuites and shared areas, allowing residents to remain living on site during construction.

“As a community-owned organisation, we’re deeply committed to reinvesting in the communities we serve,” Mr Gallagher said.

“This refurbishment is about creating a home that reflects the level of quality and care older people in our region deserve.”

Part of a broader pipeline

The Marco Polo Unanderra upgrade forms part of IRT’s longer-term development pipeline, which includes plans to deliver more than 1,000 new homes for older Australians over the next decade. This includes around 800 independent living units and 200 residential care beds across Greater Western Sydney, the Illawarra and NSW South Coast.

“At the end of the day, this project is about people,” Mr Gallagher said.

“It’s about ensuring older people can access care close to the people and places they know, and continuing to invest in the communities that rely on us.”