Wheelers Ln: $17.7 million plans for Westhaven group home in Dubbo

A multimillion-dollar vision to create specialist disability accommodation in the state’s central west has been revealed. Here are the plans below.

A not-for-profit organisation has partnered with a housing company who recently lodged a development application with a council in the state’s central west for a group home for individuals living with a disability.

Westhaven and Excelsior Housing Services have teamed together with $17.7 million plans before Dubbo Regional Council to build 13 dwellings, including two five-bedroom, three three-bedroom, four four-bedroom dwellings and one villa on 475 Wheelers Ln, in Dubbo.

The proposal seeks to demolish the existing seven dwellings, an office, a shed and 11 trees to build “modern and practical” homes to provide specialist disability accommodation for adults living with a disability to live in a homelike environment.

A planner for the project says the redevelopment of the site will provide for “additional and enhanced specialist disability accommodation, therefore enabling housing diversity, choice and affordability” to the Dubbo community.

The development would accommodate for 39 clients, one in each bedroom, who are supported by staff members on rotating shifts.

Map of where the proposed lots are located in Dubbo. Photo: Supplied.

“Each person in the accommodation receives a range of services specific to their individual needs that may include, personal care and assistance with daily living, assistance with medication, health or medical appointments, support to access leisure and recreational opportunities, cooking and preparing meals, skills development inside and outside the home and positive behaviour supports,” the planner said.

The proposed lots on Wheelers Ln, Dubbo. Photo: Supplied.

“The shared living home would operate like any typical dwelling, where the occupants (on-site staff and sometimes clients) will carry out the cleaning and grocery shopping … the clients would attend daytime organised activities, including education.”

The planner said there would also be communal and open spaces in the facility, including laundry which would be necessary for clients to use as a group.

Westhaven new accommodation on Wheelers Ln, Dubbo. Photo: Supplied.

If approved, the development is not expected to result in any adverse social impacts in the locality.

Each of the dwellings, expect one, would include a double garage and two stacked parking spaces, accompanied by visitor parking spaces in the facility.

The planner says the development will propose positive impacts by providing an increased supply of disability friendly housing.