Bateau Bay: Neighbours hire town planner to object to Nareen Gardens redevelopment

A group of Bateau Bay residents have hired a town planner to object to the proposed Nareen Gardens seniors living redevelopment with public submissions closing soon.

Concerned residents surrounding a $148 million plan to redevelop Nareen Gardens retirement village into a series of three and four-storey buildings for 192 units and a 160-bed aged care facility have hired a town planner to object to the proposal.

Residents have formed the Bateau Community Collective which commissioned SKM Planning Pty Ltd to prepare a submission outlining why the Regional Planning Panel should refuse the plans lodged aged care provider Uniting.

A petition has also been sent to Central Coast Council signed by 425 local residents.

It comes as public submissions are set to close on Thursday with the development likely to go before the planning panel some time in December.

Uniting's Nareen Gardens retirement village at Bateau Bay will be knocked down and redeveloped under $148 million plans to increase its capacity fourfold. Picture: supplied

“Based on the comprehensive review and assessment of the development provided in this report, we consider the proposal lacks merit and would have unacceptable impacts on neighbours and the broader Bateau Bay area,” SKM’s submission states.

“The proposal, in its current design, would detrimentally impact on the amenity of the adjoining established residences in Lakin St and Bias Ave.”

The submission objects on several grounds including loss of privacy, overshadowing, traffic, noise and the sheer bulk and scale of the proposal being out of character for the low-density residential area.

The submission also states the proposal is based on existing and outdated planning controls and does not take into account draft amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policies, which would limit the height and floor space ratio (FSR).

An artist's’s impression of what one of the four-storey buildings would look like. Picture: supplied

“The Central Coast Regional Plan does not identify Bateau Bay or the locality of the site as a local centre intended for increased scale, height and density,” the submission states.

“Other centres identified for increased densities, infill development and redevelopment including Gosford, the Entrance, Terrigal and Wyong have had both height controls and FSR controls imposed.

“The DCP (development control plan) restricts the height of buildings on the site and in the surrounding area to 7m or essentially the height of a two storey dwelling. The proposal is over double the height control at 14.8m.”

The submission states the redevelopment has been designed “in defiance” of the existing character of the area and does not equate to good “neighbourhood fit”.

The submission states the proposed development was not a good “neighbourhood fit”. Picture: supplied

“The proposal in its current form will not `positively contribute to the quality and existing identity of the locality’,” the submission states.

“The quality of amenity currently enjoyed by landowners and occupants would be significantly reduced if this development were to proceed in its proposed form.”

The submission states Uniting’s plans do not indicate the total occupancy of the site which could be up to 918 people in the independent living units, 160 in the aged care facility and staff.

SKM Planning estimates the redevelopment would generate 487.2 vehicle trips per day, excluding the residential aged care component of the facility, in a low density residential area.

The existing one-storey units would be knocked down under the proposal and be replaced with four-storey apartment blocks. Picture: supplied

“This increase in volume, particularly when the peak coincides with commuter peak will have negative impacts on the community in terms of emissions, noise, traffic congestion and road safety,” the submission states.

“There are too many significant issues and detrimental impacts posed to residents in the area that need to be addressed in a revised proposal.”

Uniting has said it had no plans for construction within the next 12 months and it would keep residents and the community updated.

“We will continue to operate business as usual while we consider the time frame for construction,” a spokesperson said.

“Any potential changes may take place a few years into the future.”