Canberra's Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre will stay open for two more years
Now, the Canberran is relieved the ACT government will abandon that plan, instead keeping the 15-bed centre in Canberra's south open for another two years.
"It's good news but it's only half news because two years is nothing … So, they need to get busy and start on a decent-sized replacement," Mrs Plunkett said.
She stayed at the respite centre for several weeks while her carer and daughter had a break.
"I don't hold my breath waiting to get there again, but it was very pleasant, and the girls are all lovely. All the carers are delightful. Nothing's a trouble," Mrs Plunkett recalled.
Ruth Carter, one of Mrs Plunkett's daughters, agreed.
"Mum's residing here with my sister and her husband, so obviously it's crucial [they] have ongoing respite. Mum needs to go somewhere," she said.
"The centre's been open for 35 years and what you have is continuity of care."
Ms Carter said closing Burrangiri would have been "hugely catastrophic for Canberra".
In announcing its pivot, the government stressed the building the service is housed in still needs major works.
"The health directorate's advice remains that the facility would require a significant scope of work to be fit for purpose," Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
The building has just two bathrooms and electrical and safety issues.
Ms Stephen-Smith said today's reversal sensibly weighed those issues against the strong community demand for Burrangiri's services, offering an apology for the uncertainty.
The Salvation Army will continue to operate the respite facility, with independent MLA Fiona Carrick saying the two-year extension gave workers "certainty" and "anything shorter, people start leaving".
Ms Carrick said she had heard from concerned Canberrans who relied on Burrangiri and that those "carers will be very happy".
"It's not the end of Burrangiri. We don't know how the options will play out. Potentially, Burrangiri could still be on the table [after the two-year extension]," she said.
As part of its re-election pitch, federal Labor had promised $10 million for respite aged care beds in the ACT.
Ms Stephen-Smith said she had written to Health Minister Mark Butler asking for federal support to fund the extension of Burrangiri, as well as "expediting their $10-million commitment".
She said Burrangiri's two-year extensions buys the federal government time to deliver on its commitment to fund the ACT's respite beds going forward.
ACT Senator Katy Gallagher said Burrangiri's lifeline was a "great outcome for the Save Burrangiri Group and broader ACT community."
She said the public had "argued strongly to keep this important service open for families that rely on the care and respite it provides."
Canberra Liberals leader Leanne Castley said Burrangiri's reprieve came after the opposition's pressure on Ms Stephen-Smith "forced her hand".
"It's absolutely fabulous, of course, but I think the question is: 'Why all of a sudden was the minister able to change her mind?'
"There were so many excuses thrown at us, when actually, [the government] can make it happen. They just needed to do the work.
"Unless you're willing to push and push and push, and they are dragged kicking and screaming, they actually won't take action."
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