BRIGHTWATER Care Group has received approval to expand its Inglewood facility.
The aged care provider applied to the City of Stirling for a local development plan for its vacant site at 2A Walter Road West, next to its The Village Inglewood facility.
The plan sought to build up to two storeys (6m wall height) within 10m of properties coded R50 or below and a maximum of four storeys (16m wall height) on the remainder of the site, above the 12m existing height provision.
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READ NOWBrightwater’s application proposed a “community hub” combining various uses to meet the increasing demand for aged care and accommodation.
“These uses may include office, training and research facilities, incidental retail and recreation amenities and intergenerational care and accommodation,” it said.
It described the planned facility as a “world class, community orientated intergenerational care facility” and would comprise a 120-bed residential aged care home, office facility for 150 staff and ancillary medical and retail uses.
The site also abuts Macaulay Park and R30 zoned residential properties.
During public consultation, the City received 18 objections and two supportive submissions, and a 75-signature petition against the plan.
Concerns raised included the bulk and scale of the proposed development, potential removal of existing trees, excessive building height and overshadowing.
A report by the City presented at last night’s Stirling council meeting said the majority of issues would be addressed as part of a future development application and it was only considering the proposed building height variation.
The City recommended supporting the plan and height variation because it was not expected to adversely impact adjacent homes “given the side setbacks of any future development will be required to comply with the side setback requirements” and would positively contribute to the surrounding area’s “prevailing development context”.
But Councillor Giovanni Italiano moved an alternative recommendation to keep the building height maximum of 12m, following an earlier briefing from Brightwater representatives who told councillors they were happy to abide by the 12m/three-storey maximum.
Brightwater plans to redevelop its existing facility following completion of this development.