General News
17 August, 2026
‘Fill the empty rooms’
CALLS are intensifying for the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council to keep a binding covenant intact and reopen Cootharinga Gardens, returning the empty 10-bedroom facility to its original purpose as a retirement residence for local seniors.
The Babinda District Aged Care (BDAC) committee is urging authorities to honour the site’s original mandate – rather than allow it to be repurposed or left abandoned.
Built through $400,000 in local community fundraising alongside about $900,000 in government contributions, the Hospital Street property, previously known as Abbeyfield House, has now stood vacant for nearly two years.
“The community built this place for our elderly. The covenant was written into the title by the founders – precisely so the site could never be repurposed,” Babinda District Aged Care (BDAC) committee member Fred Lizzio said.
“We do not want the covenant softened, we want it honoured and the 10 empty bedrooms returned to the purpose the town built them for,” he said.
With almost one-quarter of Babinda’s population aged 65 or older – compared to around 16% statewide – the community argues the need for local senior housing has intensified.
Former BDAC committee member Christine Norman said that when the community ran the facility, it was nearly always full.
“Under BDAC intake, priority went to pensioners, but anyone that lived locally was eligible – provided homeowners sold their own home first,” she said.
“I believe under later management, self-funded retirees were turned away,” she said.
“Every month that Cootharinga Gardens sits empty, Babinda seniors who would otherwise age in place in their own community are pushed elsewhere – away from family and friends.”
Local residents have voiced growing frustration over the vacant building, pointing out that local seniors are missing out while facilities sit idle.
They told The Observer (5 July edition) there are currently older people living in Babinda hospital – where there is also a waiting list for places – who should instead be living at Cootharinga Gardens.
“My understanding was that it was built by the community for somewhere for older residents to live,” resident Judith Barrie said.
She that the grounds remained neatly kept and in good condition.
Another resident, Rosanna Lennon, echoed the concerns, saying that leaving the building empty was simply “not right.”
“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,” she said.
The site’s complex journey began in 2016 when Cairns Regional Council transferred part of its freehold land to Cootharinga under a covenant restricting its use to a retirement facility.
After merging with disability provider CPL (Choice, Passion, Life) in 2020, CPL determined in 2022 that community housing no longer aligned with its core mission.
Intakes ceased, lease extensions were reduced and the final resident departed in 2025.
For over three years, Cootharinga and the Queensland Department of Housing have been in closed-door discussions regarding a transfer to an alternative provider.
The BDAC is now demanding transparency and a clear, community-consulted transition pathway.
Cootharinga chairman Rhys Kennedysaid the provider wanted to see the facility reopened and has maintained the property at significant financial cost while proposing alternative providers to the state government.
A department spokeswoman has declined to comment, citing commercial confidentiality, while Cairns council confirmed it remains open to ongoing discussions regarding the restricted site.
The BDAC committee will hold an annual general meeting shortly to elect new leadership – followed by a public meeting to keep the Babinda community informed.
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