Blayney Shire Council purchased the block of 10 single bedroom units from the Department of Social Security in 1980 with the original purpose of providing affordable housing for those able to live alone in a self-care environment.

NSW Health, who now administer the scheme, has since formally advised council that there are no remaining obligations arising from the agreement between both parties.

Council is now placing on notice the intention in principle to proceed with the sale of the Inala Units at 33 Park St, Millthorpe and is inviting public comment on the proposal.

One of those new residents is Vince Murphy who has lived in the complex for three years and is fearful that he could be priced out of the Millthorpe market.

“If it becomes privatised for sure the rents will go up and we’ll be banked out of the rental market,” he said, “If you want to stay in Millthorpe, there’s very little accommodation like this for people like us.”

Fellow resident of 18 months, Ray Crossley, had moved from Camden because of the high rents and believes that what was more likely was that a developer would buy the land and redevelop the site.

“Private enterprise has two options, keep it as it is and raise the rents or put in a DA and put the bulldozers through,” he said.

Advocate for the residents, Brian Newton, said that considering that council were phrasing the potential sale as a development opportunity, the logic of selling an asset to fund council’s routine expenses is wrong.

“It’s like selling the farm to go on a holiday,” he said. “And not only that, it is unconscionable to sacrifice people for the sake of a bottom line, for a book entry somewhere.” 

Mr Crossley said that he felt as though he was a pawn in a game where no one cared about the players.

“What irks me is the lack of compassion,” he said, “It’s the greed, the cash grab from a council that’s got plenty of money and just want the numbers to look good.”

Details on how the community may make comments and provide feedback to Council will be advertised by late next week and will be extended to late January 2017.  

A public meeting is to be held at the Millthorpe Public School hall at 6pm Thursday December 1.