Residents hit out against proposal for Dural aged care centre

RESIDENTS are at their wits’ end over a torrent of seniors housing proposals in the rural suburb of Dural and are determined to continue the battle to save it.

Ben Seale with Dural residents pictured Tuesday 14th August 2018. Ben is hitting out against a proposal for seniors housing at 3 Quarry Rd and 4 Vineys Rd, Dural. Pic: AAP Image/Sue Graham

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RESIDENTS are at their wits’ end over a torrent of seniors housing proposals in the rural suburb of Dural and are determined to continue the battle to save it.

A $110 million development application for 146 self-care seniors housing units across seven three-storey buildings has been lodged for 3 Quarry Rd and 3 Vineys Rd, Dural.

The application includes a proposal for a 74-bed aged-care facility and wellness centre.

It is being assessed by Hornsby Council after a site compatibility certificate was issued by the NSW Planning Department on May 24, 2017.

Artist impression for Dural Village at 3 Quarry Rd and 3 Vineys Rd, Dural.

Dural resident Ben Seale has campaigned for residents to register their concerns about the development with the council.

He called for the State Government to install a moratorium on seniors housing developments in The Hills and Hornsby local government areas.

“There is little infrastructure in this area and we have major congestion and dangerous conditions on our roads already,” he said. “I can’t see how Dural can handle any more traffic and development, unless there are major upgrades to the roads and other local infrastructure.”

The development has already recieved a site compatibilty certificate from NSW Planning.

Mr Seale said residents would continue to protest against medium and high-density development proposals “until infrastructure is upgraded”.

In July, the Advocate revealed close to 4500 beds would be available across 13 seniors housing facilities in Dural and Glenhaven if all the proposals were approved.

“Dural is already taking its fair share of development, so maybe some of this seniors housing needs to be spread throughout all areas across the shire, not just in an area with a lack of infrastructure,” Mr Seale said.

A spokesman for developer H Investments declined to comment.

An overview of the development.

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