Chief executive officer Fiona Murphy said the DA had a relatively smooth passage through the approval process, thanks to the aged care industry experience of architectural firm Magoffin and Deakin. The firm already has several New England aged care facilities under its belt, including Glenwood Gardens in Glen Innes.

This is the same architectural firm designing the current Tenterfield School of Arts renovation, providing a degree of synergy for visiting architect Michael McPhillips who guided the Haddington plans through council's approval process.

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Mrs Murphy said only minor adjustments to the plans were required. Concerns arising from the neighbour notification process around nighttime noise coming from the planned staff car park have been addressed.

Storm water issues have also been dealt with by incorporating underground tanks.

Mrs Murphy said the original $4.5 million project budget has been revised to $5 million (excluding fitting out) to accommodate upgrades to the existing kitchen. This will allow a redesign of the kitchen to cater for the additional meals and staff. A design consultant specialising in aged cared facilities will be contracted for the job.

The original three-phase plan for the extension had 12, eight and another eight beds in each phase. The revised phase one will now add 15 beds (the original phase one plus part of phase 2), followed by five and eight beds in each of the subsequent phases, yet to be tackled.

Each new bedroom will have a private en suite, and the wing will incorporate a new dining room, sitting room and kitchenette, an additional nurses station plus all the necessary utility areas.

Mrs Murphy said the architects will now organise for tenders to go out for structural and engineering design work for the new dementia-friendly wing, which will extend to the rear of the existing building. She said once building tenders are called for, local businesses are encouraged to participate.

TCC is aiming for a completion date in the 2021 new year. Mrs Murphy said TCC does have access to funding to see through the project, although of course will maintain its fundraising activities to ensure Haddington and its other facility, Millrace, remain solvent.

Once construction begins, Mrs Murphy promised there will be minimal disruption to existing residents.

"There may be some noise, but that will be kept to a minimum," she said.

In 18 months TCC will be recruiting around 12 additional staff, including an extra registered nurse and enrolled nurse plus carers and domestic service workers.

Mrs Murphy said TCC is already negotiating with Tenterfield High School for school-based traineeships.