Bateau Bay: Uniting pairs back Nareen Gardens master plan by 20 per cent following criticism

Uniting has slashed the number of apartments for its Nareen Gardens master plan, removed whole floors and scrapped one building altogether following a community backlash.

The $148 million redevelopment of Nareen Gardens retirement village has been scaled back significantly with Uniting saying it has listened to community concerns.

However surrounding residents are waiting to see the “devil in the detail” when a new, revised development application (DA) is expected to be lodged with Central Coast Council within the next two weeks.

Uniting NSW ACT said it had made some key changes to the master plan after listening to feedback during the January to March consultation period from its existing seniors residents, surrounding neighbours and other stakeholders.

Uniting has revised its plans for the Nareen Gardens aged care and retirement home at Bateau Bay. Picture: supplied

Uniting NSW ACT head of property development Adrian Ciano said the company cared about investing in the Central Coast community.

“There are gaps in quality and affordable housing for older Australians in Bateau Bay, which this community services development will help fix,” he said.

“Consultation is an important part of every development, to help us understand what the community wants and needs from their community services and seniors living.

“Uniting is pleased to provide greater privacy through less dwellings, greater setbacks, lower heights, additional screening, solid balustrading as well as increased landscaping, aligning to the comments made by the community.”

The three and four-storey buildings remain an issue for surrounding residents. Picture: supplied

Some of the main changes to the original master plan include removing “building 4” altogether and reducing the number of independent living apartments by almost 20 per cent from 232 units to 186.

Uniting has also scrapped the top floors from buildings 1, 2 and 5 — reducing buildings 2 and 5 to three storeys — and adding a further 28 accessible ground floor units with courtyards across the five remaining buildings (1,2,3,5 and 6).

The distance between buildings has been increased to a minimum of 12m apart while buildings 2, 5 and 6 have been moved further away from the eastern boundary to increase the depth of landscaping.

The removal of building 4 means the central “village green" has been increased by almost 48 per cent while Uniting has kept the original plans for a children’s playground, barbecue, activities and seated areas.

Building or `Block 4’ in the centre of the proposed development (pictured) has been removed in the new revised master plan. Picture: supplied

Under the new plans residents will be given clothes drying areas and wider roads for improved access and security.

“Uniting will continue to update the community in a timely manner on the progress of these plans and welcome additional feedback from the community,” the company said in a statement.

“Details of all changes to the proposed development will be made available once the development application is resubmitted to Council and subsequently placed on exhibition for community feedback.”

One thing everyone agrees is the existing retirement home with its drab single-level brick buildings needs to be knocked down and redeveloped. Picture: supplied

However spokeswoman Erin Breneger from the Bateau Bay Community Collective — a grassroots organisation made up of surrounding residents — said much of the feedback had fallen on deaf ears.

She said plans to use the otherwise small and quiet Altona Ave as a major entry and exit point remained “a major sticking point” along with a general “over development” of the site, traffic, privacy and an estimated construction time frame of six years.

Ms Breneger said residents were aware and accepted the fact the existing retirement village needed to be upgraded but wanted to ensure it was done appropriately.

“They have made some huge changes and we are committed to working with them to make further changes to keep everyone happy,” she said.