When grocery market domination isn’t enough- could Woolworths be moving into Aged Care?

Due west of Noosa Heads in Queensland’s idyllic sunshine coast is the quaint town of Cooroy. Settled in 1885, it started out as a timber town, now pulling in droves of tourists to see a mix of creative wares, foodie favourites, fresh produce and natural sites. Quite the tourists dream of a charming rural town. It could soon well be a haven as well for 120 residents in a new proposed aged care facility. But the twist doesn’t end there. The developer of this new aged care facility is none other than grocery behemoth, Woolworths.

With the ACCC estimating Woolworths holds around 38% of market-share for supermarket sales nationally, they have certainly been active in the space of milk, eggs and bacon. But as their proposal to the Cooroy council shows, they may not be stopping at aisle number 2.

In a glossy online series of announcements and updates, Woolworths has laid out its plans for an expansive development near the center of town between Myall Street and Ferells Road. 125 Myall Street to be exact for the curiously map-persuaded.

Woolworths spokes-persons have been quick to reiterate that “Community feedback was important in helping us shape plans for the site.” Traffic management, safe and convenient entry and exist paths and sufficient under-cover car parking making the podium finish according to Woolworth’s report on community engagement. 

The developers describe the proposed project as consisting “of a neighbourhood shopping centre and residential aged care (RAC) home.” Emphasising, “The proposed RAC home is separated from the neighbourhood centre site to maintain resident privacy and safety.”

Along with a “new full-line Woolworths supermarket”, “alfresco dining area” and “sustainability features”, the proposal seeks to initially offer “A 120-place residential aged care home” with the “potential expansion for additional 40 rooms/beds”.

Image: A site plan of the aged facility

While the new development application (DA) explicitly includes nods to architectural style throughout the supermarket, detailing the use of “’timber and tin’ material and other heritage-style architectural features to integrate into Cooroy’s hinterland village design”, it is yet to be made clear will be if the aged care facility will also be benefitting from these aesthetic style elements. The DA does include the commitment of “an emphasis on sustainability” throughout.

What is yet to be clarified is who or how precisely the aged care facility will be run. While having dominated the grocery scene for decades, it may be that Woolworths will have a thing or two to learn about aged care management.

The size of the proposed residential aged care facility will be substantial on the site. Close to two-thirds of the potential build will be reserved for the facility and retaining vegetation. Images from the proposal show the northern most and southern most areas of the facility will benefit from retained conservation areas.

Additional benefit offerings outlined by Woolworths and the developer are the creation of new jobs for local youth, heightened convenience for local residents in their shopping needs, all the while in the comfort of quaint historic design elements.

However while benefits to employment and convenience are admirable, the setting up and running of a potentially 160 bed residential aged care facility will demand significant expertise, logistics management and deep knowledge comprising of multiple sector intersectionality. Providers and Government staffers within the sector have been vocal about the complexities of managing a facility. Subsequently the Cooroy community and council seeking further clarity on the functioning of the aged care home is likewise crucial, to understand the opportunity, to meet growing demands for aged care spots, and the opportunity of work for the local populace to staff this facility and provide high-quality care.

Additionally, as with many current experienced providers, the new Aged Care Act to commence November 1 brings heightened compliance measures that have been voiced as complicated, uncertain and consequentially worrying. For new facilities, and the potential of new actors in the aged care space it is critical that experts advise is contributed at each stage of development for this proposed aged care facility.

The initial proposal was made public in 2023 and since, annually, there have been iterations and updates to the proposal. Of note, the woolworth’s backed developers have agreed to amend the plan by moving the potential shopping area build site out of the riparian buffer area present. Instead, the residential care facility has been moved closer to this area.

Having moved from initial community engagement in 2023, to the “Have your say” phase of Public Notification, it is worthwhile for the community to write to the Noosa Shire council with questions. Understanding how the aged care facility is to be run, how the tender for it’s management will be handled, and how Woolworths seeks to support the high-quality care that many ageing Australians will be rapidly needing in years to come, will be beneficial to potential Providers bidding for management, staff and potential residents alike.