Manufactured home proposal for IOOF homes site
The owner of a large Umina aged care facility has applied to build a manufactured home estate on the former IOOF homes site in Springwood St, Umina.
Peninsula Villages Ltd wants to place 16 prefabricated seniors living homes on the site it now owns at 147-149 Springwood St, Umina Beach.
An existing community hall on the site would be converted into two more homes.
Estimated cost of works is $1.8m.
A development application was lodged with Central Coast Council on June 21 and released for public comment between July 4 and July 25.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Friendly Society previously owned and managed the 13 existing small dwellings to accommodate people with disabilities and people on low incomes.
Three tenants with life-long leases will remain as part of the new proposal. The new homes would be sited between the 13 existing homes.
In 2010, council refused a development application which proposed to demolish 16 buildings and build 20 new ones.
The main reason for refusal at the time, according to the applicant of this new development, was due to the social impacts associated with displacing the existing tenants.
"This application differs as it maintains the existing rental agreements as well as the life tenant's tenure,'' the statement of environmental effects stated.
The site is located near the Ettalong Bowling Club and has a new footpath to the bus stop that has a regular service to and from Woy Woy town centre located directly at the front of the site.
A new medium density six-unit development is under construction adjoining the site on the south eastern corner of Springwood and Palm Sts.
In a statement as part of the development application, Peninsula Village chief executive Mr Shane Neaves said the property was bought in 2016.
"The project will see the village continue to support the current clients and the opportunity to provide future affordable accommodation to others in need," he said.
"The development is unique in some ways as there will be a mixture of existing and new dwellings for affordable living hence fulfilling our purpose in providing a much needed social fabric in the way of accommodation to our older locals."
The dwellings have been designed by Motion Group Pty Ltd which has its factory based in Woy Woy.
The prefabricated dwellings would be located between the existing small scale homes that have accommodated affordable housing since World War 2.
The homes would cater for older "cohorts" wishing to downsize or reside in smaller affordable dwellings and wanting to live independently within a self-contained home that catered for less ambulant people.
It will include onsite parking and level access with private open spaces to allow passive recreation within each site.
The proposal is on public exhibition until tomorrow, July 25.
Comments received so far have questioned the look of "pre-fab" housing and whether it would really house seniors.
Another notes that three trees would be removed and wanted council to ensure a two for one replacement was undertaken.
"The inclusion of safe canopy-providing trees are extremely important for senior housing. Trees reduce air conditioning costs and improve mobility and mental health,'' the submission said.
SOURCE:
DA Tracker, 16 Jul 2019
DA 56718, Central Coast Council