Berridale residents are frustrated the future of the Snowy River Hostel remains in limbo, 18 months after expressions of interest closed for the future use of the site.

Residents are calling for the hostel to remain in community hands following Snowy Monaro Regional Council closing the facility as a residential aged care home in January 2024, as part of its residential aged care divestment.

As the months tick by without a decision, residents are increasingly worried the hostel will be sold.

"The process can gone on for far too long. The community is worried that council wants to sell the site," Berridale resident and member of the Snowy River Hostel steering committee, Cheryl Mould, said.

"Our community doesn't want to lose this asset. We have waited for over 18 months for a decision, we just want one made.

"We desperately need aged care services here in Berridale to support the town and those living nearby."

Expressions of interest closed at the end of February 2024, after council called for submissions to provide short-term respite care or similar services through the re-purposing of the Snowy River Hostel in Berridale.

Cooma Challenge, a local not-for-profit organisation, submitted the only expression of interest. Cooma Challenge delivers NDIS and aged care services across the Snowy Monaro.

Cooma Challenge CEO, Angela Ingram, said the organisation is hopeful of taking on the Snowy River Hostel to provide much-needed aged care services in the region.

"We put in an expression of interest to provide NDIS and aged care services to the people of Berridale, Jindabyne and Dalgety," Ms Ingram said.

"We believe we are best placed to provide these non-residential services to support people living at home.

"Cooma Challenge is hopeful council looks favourably upon our submission."

Cooma Challenge was asked to provide further information, which they did in August 2024. Ms Ingram delivered a presentation to councillors and council staff last month.

Mrs Mould said she is disappointed council will not consider the hostel's future at this week's meeting.

"Some residents were told by council that the matter would come before council at its September meeting," she said.

At the time of going to print, the matter had not been included in council's business papers.

This masthead put a number of questions to council regarding the EOI process, condition the hostel is currently in and when the community could expect a decision. Council declined to comment, saying 'there is no further information to share at this stage'.