Berridale residents will need to wait another fortnight for a decision on the future of the Snowy River Hostel after Snowy Monaro Regional Council ran out of time to discuss the matter at its monthly meeting last week. Another five hour meeting took council to its 6pm cut-off, with councillors resolving to return to complete its business paper on October 29 at 2pm, which will include a confidential item on the hostel’s future. At last week’s meeting, Berridale resident and member for a hostel steering committee, Cheryl Mould, implored council to keep the facility in community hands and come to a decision. Residents have waited more than 18 months for the hostel’s future to be known, following the site’s closure as a residential aged care facility in early 2024. Close to 100 residents gathered at the hostel site in Berridale recently for a photo with this masthead. The gathering turned into an unofficial community meeting with Snowy Monaro mayor, Chris Hanna, deputy mayor, Tricia Hopkins, and Cr Nick Elliott in attendance. Elizabeth Laught, who attended the meeting and has long called for Snowy Monaro Regional Council to take a more active role in residential aged care, is calling for council to keep the facility in community hands. “How good is a public forum, a chance to speak,” Mrs Laught said. “Currawarna is a great example of what a community can do. I ask council to the original consultant report of Pride Living, he estimated we need 240 places for aged care residents. “Council must act in the public interest. These are your treasures, there are people to be heard.” Snowy Monaro mayor, Chris Hanna, told this masthead he will support residents’ calls to not sell the hostel and allow the community to drive the site’s future use. “I’m hearing from the community they are worried the facility will be sold and that they want short-term respite. I will support keeping the facility in community hands,” Cr Hanna said.
