Regional planning panel to assess village extension

The Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel will be charged with assessing a development application for a new $24.5 million 120-bed residential aged care facility in Umina.

The development application for the three-storey building was lodged with Central Coast Council in October by Peninsula Village Ltd to be located at 85 Pozieres Ave, Umina.

The gross floor area of the new building will be 7500 square metres and will take the form of an extension to the existing Peninsula Village aged care facility.

The original development consent for an aged care facility in Pozieres Ave was granted in the 1970s according to a statement of environmental effects submitted with the application.

Consent was given for subsequent alterations and additions in 2008, 2012 and 2013.

In May 2014, Peninsula Village Ltd provided Gosford Council with a Village Master Plan consisting of a new high care facility, a hospice, medical centre, self-care apartments, child care and villas.

At that time, Council raised issues about the proposal's non-compliance with floor space ratio and height, which "substantially exceeded" the requirements of the Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014, according to the statement of environmental effects.

In August 2015, a pre-lodgement meeting was held to discuss a two-staged development within the Peninsula Village precinct.

Recent acquisitions of lots adjoining the existing Village has meant the site has formed a residential aged care facility precinct that is roughly the size of a suburban block.

"In this case the site is bordered by Lone Pine Ave to the north, Bapaume Ave to the west and an unnamed lane to the south."

According to the statement: "The overall view of Council expressed at this initial meeting was extremely positive...acknowledging the social and economic benefits the proposed development would bring to the Local Government Area and indicating that the proposal would provide a much better design outcome for the site".

Accordingly, a pre-lodgement meeting was held in March and a scaled-back proposal for a three-storey building attached to the Don Leggett building via a suspended walkway was discussed.

"The succession of pre-DA meeting demonstrates the willingness of Peninsula Village and the relevant consultants to co-operate with Council to provide a proposal that could be assessed under the relevant planning controls to assist in streamlining the assessment process.

"Peninsula Village currently provides residential care with 347 bedrooms throughout the site.

"The proposed building offers three distinct levels of service including aged care, palliative care and self-care and also provides care for people with dementia.

"Peninsula Village has 283 fully accredited aged care beds covered by Commonwealth funding plus 31 beds allocated for future development."

According to the statement, the three-storey residential aged care facility would provide a ground floor with a new dementia unit and an additional 39 single bedrooms with en suites, living and dining areas, kitchen, service rooms, main entry and administration.

The first floor would include 42 bedrooms with en suites to cater for aging in place care and a server, dining, sitting areas with adjoining balconies, reception, kitchen service and therapy rooms.

The second floor would include 39 aging in place bedrooms to provide a service that is focused on residents' care requirements, similar to the first floor but with a hydro bath, physiotherapy room and hairdressing room.

"The additional accommodation will allow the facility to manage the growing demand of dementia care in specialised units.

"Peninsula Village obtained approval from the Commonwealth Government for an additional 31 beds in 2013 and with the reallocation of Jack Aldous house will have enough approved and funded beds as approved by the Commonwealth.

"All beds will be aging in place which enables the facility to provide all levels of care.

"The proposal would allow the extension of a seniors living accommodation that is in high demand due to the ageing demographics of the area.

"The proposal would continue to cater for the community needs on a site that has already been established for such a facility.

"From a social perspective, the height and scale of the development is acceptable as the building will allow additional residential aged care beds in an area that has a high demand of aging in care accommodation without impacting on the surrounding low density residential development.

"The Peninsula area includes a high percentage of over-60 year old cohort that entails an extremely high demand for aging in care accommodation.

"The limited availability of land on the Woy Woy Peninsula necessitates that existing facilities of this type maximise the amount of land that is available.

"The proposed residential aged care facility extension promotes ecologically, socially and economically sustainable development.

"Appropriate studies have been undertaken to assess the environmental, social and economic impacts which indicate the proposed extension of the facility within the locale.

"The proposal with provide best practice in the design of a facility," the statement of environmental effect said.

The application is currently on exhibition and submissions will be accepted by Central Coast Council until December 9.

Website, 24 Nov 2016

Central Coast Council DA Tracker, DA50925/2016