Snowy Monaro, and in particular Berridale residents, are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this week’s council decision for the future use of the Snowy River Hostel.

At its meeting on Thursday, 16 October, Snowy Monaro Regional Council will discuss the future of the former residential aged care facility with residents urging councillors to keep the facility in community hands.

As the two year mark approaches since council called for expressions of interest from providers to deliver short-term respite care at the hostel, locals have become increasingly worried council will sell the facility and land.

When residents saw the hostel matter was to come before council in the confidential section of this week’s meeting, there concerns increased.

A majority of residents are calling on council to keep the hostel in community hands.

Close to 100 residents gathered at the hostel site in Berridale on Saturday 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.

Cr 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.

“I support allowing the community to drive the future use of the hostel. We can’t give the hostel and site away.”

Cr Hanna said he feels the frustration of residents in waiting for council to settle upon the hostel’s future use.

“It has been a long process,” Cr Hanna said.

Cr Hanna said the matter is included in the confidential section because the report contains figures from potential providers who submitted expressions of interest, considered commercial in confidence.

Berridale resident, Sue Pritchard, said it is crucial the hostel remains a community asset.

“I don’t want to see this facility sold. I don’t want it given for a peppercorn fee to someone. We need it in council hands until we can do something as a community,” Mrs Pritchard said.

“We want this to stay in our hands, set up a committee and set up something locally we can do.”

Bev Hedger is calling on council to listen to the community’s concerns and put the region’s older residents first.

“Council could apply for cottage respite funding and run as a respite facility under council,” Mrs Hedger said.

Berridale’s Cheryl Mould has been part of a steeting committee that formed when the hostel closed as part of council’s residential aged care divestment process.

Hostel residents left the facility in early 2024.

“The process has gone on for far too long. The community is worried that council wants to sell the site,” Mrs 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.”

The hostel first opened its doors in 1993 after years of hard work from the community to raise funds.

Council meets on Thursday in the Cooma office chambers at 1pm. The meeting is live-streamed.