WA nurses union boss hits back at rumours of Kalbarri apartment complex closure

A WA union which owns units at an accommodation complex in Kalbarri has dispelled rumours the site will be closing at the end of the week. Kalbarri Beach Resort put out an email this week announcing it would be ending its accommodation operations from Thursday because of a range of “disruptions”. “A combination of COVID travel bans in 2020, COVID mandate measures, cyclone Seroja in 2021 and still waiting on cyclone-related insurance claim payouts have contributed to unprecedented disruptions for over two years. These disruptions have made it unviable to continue,” the business said in the email. But it is understood the complex has been rebranded as Riverview Holiday Apartments, with Kalbarri Beach Resort simply a trading name for former unit managers Saxton Pty Ltd. There are several parties who own and operate property at the apartment block, with the Australian Nursing Federation WA in possession of about 60 units. ANFWA secretary Mark Olson said Saxton — or Kalbarri Beach Resort — never owned any of the units, but ran dozens of apartments at the site before relinquishing their contract about four years ago. He said all units previously run by Saxton are now being managed individually or through Ray White. Mr Olson described the wording of Kalbarri Beach Resort’s email as “mischievous” and said nothing would change by Saxton going out of business. “Business is actually going gangbusters . . . is going better than ever. It survived through the cyclone remarkably well and we are doing some great things up there,” he said. “We have been running incredibly cheap accommodation for union members. And through the cyclone we co-ordinated free emergency accommodation for Western Power. “Outside the school holidays we have been providing low-cost accommodation for construction workers and staff at the local health centre.” Kalbarri Beach Resort has been been contacted for comment.