Planning panel approves new aged care facility

An aged care provider has received approval to expand its facilities with a new 120-bed $24.5 million "ageing in place" facility at 85 Pozieres Ave, Umina.

The new accommodation will replace the current care facility at Peninsula Villages' Jack Aldous House, providing residents with access to the newest ageing in place amenities on the Central Coast.

The proposal was referred to the Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel for approval because its value was greater than $20 million.

The panel granted permission on August 24, subject to a few agreed amendments.

The planning panel supported an assessment of the proposal from Central Coast Council that recommended Peninsula Village be given approval, with conditions, for the project to go ahead.

Conditions included finding ways to improve the project's impact on privacy in, and the new building's visibility impact from, Bapaume Ave.

The planning panel also required Peninsula Villages to provide additional street landscaping, and the development of a Parking Management and Operational Plan to address the need for more parking to accommodate a net of 24 additional beds once the new facility is up and running.

Peninsula Villages chief Mr Shane Neaves said the new facility would benefit ageing community members and create new job opportunities for locals and prepare the organisation for the increased demand in residential aged care in the future.

"We are extremely pleased with this decision," Mr Neaves said.

"It is an exciting outcome for our for-purpose aged care organisation and the local community," he said.

"This $24.5 million development will bring a great deal of economic and social benefit to the Peninsula and wider Central Coast, creating more jobs and opportunities to accommodate our ageing community with the very best facilities, both now and in the future," he said.

The new building would provide three levels of private single rooms, each with their own ensuite.

The organisation has also planned for the rooms to be broken into family units of up to 14 residents with key staff to be allocated to each area to ensure continuity of care.

"As the needs of our community members evolve, so must we.

"The new building will be a move forward and away from the traditional aged care facility to rather a focus on the comfort and enjoyment of residents," Mr Neaves said.

"We aim to achieve this through the provision of high-quality amenities and services, as well as improved care by our multi-skilled team.

"Aging in place means Peninsula Villages will offer three distinct levels of care within one facility, including aged care and palliative care, as well as specialist dementia care with a dedicated dementia unit on the ground floor."

Construction of the new Peninsula Villages facility is planned to commence in early next year.

SOURCE;

Media release, 25 Sep 2017

Katey Small, Brilliant Logic