Peninsula Village extensions approved

Gosford Council has approved extensions to Peninsula Village retirement home on the eastern side of Arras Ave, over the road from the current village at Umina.

The development involves the demolition of 10 houses and various outbuildings.

Peninsula Village must comply with various conditions and must build within five years.

The site is bounded by Lone Pine Ave to the north, Arras Ave to the west and Pozieres Ave to the south.

Residential properties are located to the east of the site.

The proposal also includes an area of Arras Ave between Pozieres Ave and Lone Pine Ave, and part of the unnamed lane between Arras Ave and Bapaume Ave.

These sections of roadway are to be purchased from the council by Peninsula Village and contain the proposed car parking area.

Council has approved the sale of the roadway to Peninsula Village Ltd.

The Peninsula Village was constructed in 1983 and currently consists of self care units, a hostel, "The Lodge" which is a special care unit, the Jack Aldous Memorial Nursing Home, and a day care centre.

The proposal will provide the village with facilities for low care residents and provide an opportunity to offer a specifically designed day care facility to replace an existing centre which will be demolished to provide additional car parking.

Also included in the proposal is a dementia care unit, which will provide facilities not currently available in the existing nursing home.

In addition, new staff and administration facilities will be provided including conference facilities, expanded office space and staff amenities.

Council officers considered the appropriateness of the development and stated: "In this instance, it is considered that the proposal is not inconsistent with the stated objectives of the Residential 2(a) Zone and is in keeping with clause 10(3) of the Gosford Planning Scheme Ordinance.

"The proposal is a large building that does not reflect the scale of neighbouring dwellings.

"Such SEPP 5 developments by their nature necessitate construction of large buildings in comparison to older style bungalows.

"If the older style bungalow is used as the reference point, buildings such as hospitals and larger multi-unit buildings simply cannot comply with character requirements.

"Although DCP 159 - Character fails to recognize such, this section of the Umina Beach 6:Open Bungalows character locality exhibits its own particular character due to the existing Peninsula Village at the base of the wooded hillside.

"The existing building is far larger than the adjoining bungalows and is in fact large enough to be considered as being within a separate character locality.

"The building works that are the subject of the proposal will enhance the existing Peninsula Village as the proposed landscaping works and additional off street car parking will provide a suitable transition between the existing Peninsula Village and the bungalows within the Umina Beach 6: Open Bungalows character locality.

"The site is located on the fringe of the Umina 6:Open Bungalows character locality at the base of a wooded hillside.

"For this reason, the proposal will not impact on the character of the Umina 6:Open Bungalows character locality.

"In this instance, the proposal although not compliant with the character of the Umina Beach 6 Open Bungalows character locality, does not detract from the character of the immediate locality.

"In conclusion the proposal will provide an appropriate addition to the existing Peninsula Village and help meet the growing demand of the aged in the Woy Woy-Umina area."

Council agenda DH.074, August 5