By EMMA SPILLETT and RACHEL BROWNE
More than a quarter of Illawarra nursing homes are yet to install fire sprinkler systems, despite the state government mandating their introduction.
Eight homes between Stanwell Park and Gerringong have not fitted the life-saving systems or have only partially installed them, figures released by the NSW government on Monday show.
Non-compliant facilities include Warrigal’s Warilla, Mount Warrigal and Coniston homes, IRT’s Towradgi Park Village and Woonona Village and Chesalon Care in Woonona.
All NSW nursing homes are required to have sprinklers installed by March 2016.
Several Illawarra homes had asked for extra time, nominating anywhere between 18 months and three years for the work to be completed.
Statewide, 120 homes have installed the systems but more than 200 are yet to do so.
All facilities were told to introduce sprinklers after the 2011 fire at the Quakers Hill nursing home, which killed 11 people and left eight others seriously injured.
Twenty homes across the Illawarra have already complied with the directive, including Elanora in Shellharbour, Villa Maria in Unanderra and Ridgeview in Albion Park.
Monday’s figures prompted the state’s peak seniors advocacy group to criticise the length of time it is taking for homes to bring in the systems, accusing the aged care sector of not treating safety seriously.
Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association manager of research and advocacy Amelia Christie said the group was concerned with the delays.
‘‘Almost three-quarters of homes have asked for extra time to install sprinklers, which is disappointing when the safety of residents is at stake,’’ she said.
‘‘We understand some facilities may have difficulties in retrofitting sprinklers but the large percentage of places which are stalling on it suggests they are not taking safety as seriously as they should.’’
A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Planning and Environment said providers were working hard to meet the 2016 deadline.
‘‘Where there are issues, like a lack of qualified contractors in the area, we are working to identify solutions to deliver the upgrades as soon as possible,’’ he said.
IRT said it was installing fire sprinkler systems in its aged care facilities and would complete all required installations by March 2016.
‘‘Work has already been completed at IRT William Beach Gardens Akuna Cottage in Kanahooka, and IRT Sarah Claydon in Milton,’’ an IRT spokesman said.
‘‘Work is currently underway at IRT Moruya and will commence at IRT Woonona in October 2014.’’
A Warrigal spokesman said the group had seven residential aged care homes, three of which required sprinkler system installations.
The installations formed part of other planned building upgrades for each home which required development application consent, the spokesman said.
‘‘Applications were lodged in recent months with one approval achieved and the others expected in October/November,’’ he said.
‘‘The improvements and sprinkler installations at each home are on track for commencement in early 2015 with completion before end March 2016 to comply with legislative requirements.’’
