JDAP approves Manning aged care development

CRIES of outrage erupted from Manning residents after the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) yesterday approved a development application from Southcare Inc.

The application for 82 aged and dependent dwellings with cafe and community room was previously rejected by the JDAP in October 2017 because of the adverse amenity impact it would have on surrounding residential developments.

However, after several mediation sessions at the State Administrative Tribunal the revised plans, that included more landscaping, were approved 4-1.

In 2015 a Town Planning Scheme amendment with specific controls allowing greater development at the Southcare site on Bickley Crescent was gazetted by the Western Australian Planning Commission but varied from the original adopted by the City of South Perth with a variety of restrictions removed.

JDAP presiding member Charles Johnson said he had a great deal of sympathy for residents who may have expected one form of development in terms of the scheme amendment before changes were made but nevertheless found the application compliant.

“I spoke in favour of this development last time it was with the panel and I believe that the changes that were made (through mediation) improve the development,” he said.

Manning resident Leonie Kelly said she and her husband had lived in the area since 2008 and were devastated by the approval.

“I am a mother of three young children and my husband and I are on a single income; we put our life saving into our house and like most families it is our biggest assets,” she said.

“I can’t believe we had to go through the whole process again (after the initial rejection) for the minor amendments that Southcare made to their plans; removing carparks, changing some windows and adding a few trees which are a deciduas variety so will not mitigate the privacy issues they are allegedly intended to improve.

“It is clear the care factor of Southcare is nil, and now we will have to live with this outrageous overdevelopment with no hope of selling our house which will surely be valued significantly less than when we bought it.”Southcare chief executive Nicky Howe said she was pleased the application was approved as it will allow the company to address the shortage of appropriate diverse housing and deliver its mission.

“The last thing we want to do, is to not be valued by the community,” Dr Howe said.

“Certainly we want a good relationship with the community so we will probably have work to do around building that but our intent was to address the need for accessible housing for aged independent people, which is huge in the area.”

MORE: WA’s meth epidemic shows no signs of abating

MORE: St John Ambulance paramedic students put to the test with shark attack exercise

MORE: Perth customers reporting Synergy bill account number “stuff-up”