Seniors call for Hills Shire Council to scrap ban on seniors housing as seniors planning laws change
ELDERLY residents have made a desperate plea to the Hills Shire Council to consider supporting the proposed expansion of a growing Glenhaven aged care facility.
Hills Shire
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ELDERLY residents have made a desperate plea to the Hills Shire Council to consider supporting the proposed expansion of a growing Glenhaven aged care facility.
The call for support for the proposed expansion Living Choice Retirement Village on Old Glenhaven Rd, Glenhaven, comes as NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts announced changes to site compatibility certificates for planning around seniors housing today.
“We need to have a system that facilitates developers building fit for purpose accommodation for seniors, but at the same time protect the local character of an area,” Mr Roberts said.
“Developers can no longer increase the size of their development simply by applying for a new Site Compatibility Certificate to include additional land unless they meet existing and new criteria.”
The changes in planning comes after the Hills Shire Council moved a motion to oppose the approval of building consent for seniors living developments across rural zones in The Hills until planning around site compatibility certificates was changed.
Loreto Normanhurst teacher Ken Lesson is desperate to move into the Glenhaven seniors village to be closer to his wife, Neryl, 71, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor behind her eye four years ago.
The 69-year-old Castle Hill resident was forced to move his wife into a high-care facility in Glenhaven, at Carinya House, and wants to move closer to her.
“We had always planned to downsize and move into Living Choice,” he said.
“But when my wife was diagnosed with cancer and lost her sight, our plans changed.”
Mr Lesson’s is forced to travel to see his wife on a daily basis, while he continues to work part time and maintain his home.
“I am fortunate enough to live in one of the best streets in The Hills and have become accustom to this lifestyle, but my house is getting too big and I need to be closer to my wife,” he said. “More than 150 people are vying for homes at this facility right now, but there are none available.
“There is an undersupply of villa style seniors housing in The Hills and council’s policy to oppose all site compatibility certificates has contributed to this undersupply.”
Former Hornsby mayor Steve Russell is leading the campaign on behalf of the centre, revealing there is a 150 person waitlist to get into the facility.
“There is a need for seniors living and we need to be able to provide a variety of opportunities for seniors housing,” Mr Russell said.
“What people don’t realise is that the centre is right outside a public transport link, has its own services such as doctors, pharmacists and provides access to town centres.”
Mr Russell said he is well aware of the concerns of council.
“However, these people have lived in the Hills all of their lives and they are accustom to living here,” he said. “They don’t want to be told how they can live in their senior years.”
Hills mayor Michelle Byrne said council wants to ensure development occurs in the right location.
“Site compatibility certificates have been handed out like sponge cake,” she said.
“We don't want to see the sprawl of seniors living in rural areas.”
While general manager Micheal Edgar said there were several circumstances where certificates were issued for sites that were not compatible.
The new rule means developers will be forced to undertake a cumulative impact assessment as part of an application, if the development is within one kilometre of two or more other seniors housing sites.
“A study will need to be prepared that considers the impact of any new developments on existing and future infrastructure and services, including roads, water, sewerage and public transport,” Mr Roberts said.
“These changes reinforce the importance of local amenities for residents of new seniors’ housing and other requirements, including safe pedestrian links, access to public transport and parking for residents and visitors.
“The amendments will also transfer decision making on SCC applications to the Sydney and Regional Planning Panels from the Department of Planning and Environment”.