Dural seniors village plans revived after court dismissal
A multimillion-dollar seniors housing development proposal — knocked back by the Land and Environment Court — has risen from the ashes in a rural town in Sydney’s northwest.
Hills Shire
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- Seniors housing village proposal dismissed
- Retirement village development in Dural
- Plans for seven more seniors villages, in Dural, Glenhaven
- Residents hit out against proposal for Dural aged care centre
A multimillion-dollar seniors housing development proposal — knocked back by the Land and Environment Court — has risen from the ashes.
A new application for the $98 million Wirrabara Village at 5 Pellitt Ln, Dural, was submitted to the Hills Shire Council on December 20, despite a Land and Environment Court dismissal on April 20 last year.
The original proposal earmarked a four-storey aged care facility comprising 72 suites, 117 self-care homes.
The project also proposed a gym, indoor pool, wellness centre, steam room, library, cinema, games room, art room, a bowls green and dog park.
The revised application reduces the number of beds by 49, seeking approval for the development of seniors housing to include 104 serviced self care housing, a 36 bed residential care facility and community buildings.
In April, court commissioner Susan O’Neill said she feared the impacts the proposal would have on “endangered ecological communities and threatened species in the Sydney turpentine ironbark forest, as well as location and access to infrastructure and a lack of bushfire protection measures”.
However, the revised development application argues a series of benefits support the approval of the village including proximity to shopping centres, libraries, recreational centres and a men’s shed.
Hills Shire councillor Robyn Preston is calling for councils to consider allocating specific land for aged care accommodation during the masterplanning of new communities.
“When we masterplan we consider locations for health and education facilities, we need to cater for the future of our ageing population,” she said.
“The proposal for Pellitt Lane is simply in the wrong location.
THE BATTLE FOR DURAL
SENIORS CALL FOR HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL TO SCRAP BAN ON SENIORS HOUSING
RESIDENT GROUPS RALLY TO SAVE ENDANGERED FOREST AT OLD NORTHERN RD
DURAL SENIORS VILLAGE IS ‘MOCKERY OF URBAN PLANNING’: COUNCIL
DEVELOPER WITHDRAWS PLANS FOR 2900 HOMES IN SOUTH DURAL
“It doesn't matter how big or small the development is, it is defacing the semirural landscape
it is not near essential public transport and critical infrastructure such as hospitals.”
A spokesman for the developer said they engaged a new design team to revise the development submission following the Land and Environment Court refusal.
“The new design team was to prepare a revised DA submission taking on board the issues raised in the Court process and being fully compliant with council’ planning controls,” the spokesman from Dedico Development services said.
“We believe the revised DA submission meets these objectives and provides and improved scheme for all stakeholders including the local community.”