General News
5 August, 2026
Cloudy future
BABINDA residents are demanding answers about the future of the town’s former Abbeyfield House (more recently known as Cootharinga Gardens) which was built so elderly people could live locally and independently.
The 10-room Hospital St property has been vacant since about October last year.
Cootharinga took over the accommodation facility and managed it as a community housing provider until last year.
The organisation merged with CPL – Choice, Life, Passion – in 2020 but continued to operate as Cootharinga.
In 2022, after a review, it decided community housing no longer aligned with its core mission of providing disability support services.
As a result, it stopped taking on new residents, with the last remaining occupant departing Cootharinga Gardens in 2025, leaving the property vacant since.
Local resident Judith Barrie said she was baffled that it was no longer being used, even though the communal lounge area still included comfortable seats, including recliners, a TV and even a piano, while a fan was still spinning in the kitchen area.
“We have older people living in the (Babinda) hospital. They should be living here. There is a waiting list for older people at the hospital. People are screaming for places,” she said.
“The grounds are kept neatly and it’s in reasonable condition.
“Some of the staff worked here for 13 years and then were put off.
“My understanding was that it was built by the community for somewhere for older residents to live.”
Another resident, Roseanna Lennon, said leaving the building empty was “not right”.
“It was created by the town, built brick by brick, with money raised through cent sale after cent sale,” he said.
“Families are having to send their older relatives out of town to be cared for by strangers. This should be a place for our precious oldies.”
Ms Lennon said it was ideal for people to live independently with assisted care.
Cootharinga says it is seeking a clear pathway from the Department of Housing and Public Works and Cairns Regional Council to return the property to use.
“We understand why members of the Babinda community want to see progress, particularly when there is such a significant need for housing and support options across the region,” said Cootharinga chairman Rhys Kennedy.
“Over the past three years, Cootharinga has worked with the department and its predecessors to secure a sustainable future for Cootharinga Gardens,” he said.
“Cootharinga Gardens is managed by Cootharinga as the community housing provider.
“Support services were delivered independently by residents’ chosen support providers, however Cootharinga has sought to transition the management to other interested providers.
“Despite extensive correspondence, formal submissions and direct meetings with department representatives and successive ministers across the past three years, a formal pathway for transition has not yet been confirmed.
“Cootharinga shares the community’s desire to see the property returned to use and once again provide value to the Babinda region.
“During this time Cootharinga has proposed several potential solutions to government, including the nomination of an alternative suitably qualified community housing provider. Cootharinga has also maintained the property in good faith and at considerable financial cost while advocating for an outcome that preserves it as an important social housing option in the Babinda region.”
A department spokeswoman refused to comment as the matter was “commercial in confidence”.
A council spokeswoman said council remained open to continue discussions with Cootharinga and relevant government departments regarding the future of the site (which has restricted uses) to determine an appropriate pathway forward.
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