The Not For Profit retirement village and aged care provider has lodged a Development Application with Wollongong City Council for the renovation and refurbishment of Marco Polo Aged Care Centre, located in Unanderra, Wollongong, about 100km south of Sydney.

The plans are expected to be put on exhibition for public viewing and comment soon.

On 6 September 2024, The Weekly SOURCE reported IRT Group had been given $15.8 million from the Australian Government to revitalise Marco Polo Unanderra and provide much-needed beds. 

The funding will enable the refurbishment of Cordeaux Lodge, which is currently home to 80 residents, and the restoration of the currently closed St Luke’s and St John’s nursing homes, bringing online an additional 30 high-care suites and 18 secure memory support suites. St Luke’s and St John’s wings were built in the 1980s and were closed in March 2023 after new admissions ceased in 2021. The style and standard of accommodation in these section was considered no longer suitable to meet the needs and expectations of residents.

IRT acquired Marco Polo Aged Care Services, which has 334 residential aged care places across facilities in Unanderra and the newer Woonona in July 2023.

IRT CEO Patrick Reid said IRT was extremely grateful for the grant.

“This grant is important because it will enable us to deliver additional aged care beds, which will, in turn, reduce pressure on the local health system and achieve better social outcomes for the people who are caught in the holding pattern of waiting to leave the hospital," he said.

“In summary, sub-acute care is much more costly than aged care alternatives and is costing the Illawarra health system an extra $58 million annually. Adding more aged care beds will significantly reduce these costs.”