Sundale rebuild sets course for next 50 years

Following a major restructure, Sundale has emerged from a decade of financial difficulty debt-free and is reshaping its property portfolio for the next generation of Sunshine Coast seniors.

CEO Cameron Taylor told a Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catchup that the retirement living and aged care provider had spent the past two years restructuring its operations and rebuilding its team. He said the previous decade had been difficult, with Sundale at one stage selling assets to remain afloat.

The organisation now had no debt, money in the bank and a funds management portfolio, placing it in a stronger position to refurbish, expand or replace ageing property.

“Our entire purpose at this point in time is to make sure Sundale is set up for the next 40 or 50 years,” Mr Taylor said.

Sundale recently completed an expansion of about 50 independent living units at its Palmwoods Community , which combines aged care and independent living and is home to approximately 400 residents.

Mr Taylor said non-core business properties across the portfolio would be sold, while buildings that could not be restored or re-purposed would be demolished.

This included the McGowan buildings in Nambour, which he said could not be saved or adapted in the same way as the nearby Sunvilla senior’s rental village.

Sundale also planned to lodge development applications for further expansions during the next six months.

“Every property we have over the next two years is either going to be sold if we don’t want it, demolished if we can’t keep it, and refurbished, extended or rebuilt for the future,” Mr Taylor said.

He expected the process to produce what would effectively be a new Sundale within three to four years. 

The Nambour-based organisation has almost 1500 customers and residents and employs about 800 people. 

Mr Taylor said most employees lived within 30 or 40 minutes of their workplace, making Sundale an important local employer as well as an essential provider of Seniors living and aged care.

CEO Cameron Taylor says the retirement living and aged care provider had spent the past two years restructuring its operations.