Two changes requested for aged care development

Two applications have been made for changes to conditions of consent for an aged care development approved in 2018 for land at 45 Hillview St, Woy Woy.

One change has been approved under delegated authority by Central Coast Council staff, while the other is still under assessment.

The approved application was made in April to modify the basement carpark and internal floor level of the ground floor and to delete another consent condition.

The Council planners' assessment report said the modifications would "reduce the volume and depth of the basement level so that its bottom in-ground floor slab is raised to be above the water table level rather than below it".

It would have an "improved outcome for hydrology and environment, avoiding the need to pump out ground water during construction and reducing excavation works".

"There is no change to the approved building footprint or building height and no impact on the designated bushland protection/conservation area of the site," the assessment stated.

The proponent lodged another Section 4.55 application on July 6, which would amend condition 2.7(a).

That condition required the developer to "submit design details of the following engineering works within private property: ...driveways-ramps and car parking areas must be designed according to the requirements of Australian Standard AS 2890: parking Facilities for the geometric designs, and industry standards for pavement designs ... the minimum crest driveway level to basement car parking must be Reduced Level 4.5m Australian Height Datum ... the access driveway into the loading dock and waste storage areas are to accommodate a SRV 6.4 metres in length."

Details of the requested change had been made public on the Council's planning portal by July 23.

Council's assessment of this amendment commenced on July 6.

The April deletion of Condition 2.17 meant the developer was no longer required a controlled activity approval for pumping out of groundwater during construction.

Council staff said the need for controlled activity approval was "obviated by the higher basement slab level now being made higher than the water table".

"It is noted that the water table fluctuates between RL 2.3m and RL 2.55m and raising the basement as proposed should avoid the water table negating the need to obtain controlled activity approval.

"It is considered Condition 2.17 can be deleted on the basis an advisory condition is imposed to ensure that legislative obligations are met if during works the water table is reached and extraction of ground water is required; a controlled activity approval is obtained."

According to Council documents, the land is "partly occupied by remnant ecologically endangered community, Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland, comprising of an area of 6,647m2 which is contained within a designated bushland protection-conservation area (Bushland Management Zone) under positive covenant DP 1123934 ... dated 21 February 2012".

After a failed attempt to modify a previous development approval for a retirement village, a new and revised development application for a $28 million aged care facility was approved by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in 2018.

As the application was for a development exceeding $20 million, it was decided by the Joint Regional Planning Panel as a regional development.

A construction certificate for Stage One Civil and Ground Works was lodged with Central Coast Council for the new multi-level nursing home on January 9 this year.

SOURCE:

DA Tracker, 23 Jul 2020

DA53784/2018,, Central Coast Council