Queenscliff Community Health Centre to become housing, with a few for those in financial stress
A former health centre on the northern beaches is to be turned into dozens of studios and units, with a few set aside for those under financial stress, such as nurses, cleaners, retail workers and women over 55.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former community health centre on the northern beaches is to be turned into 38 studios and units, with a handful being set aside for key workers such as nurses and cleaners, as well as women over 55 suffering financial stress.
Queenscliff Community Health Centre in North Manly is currently being purchased by Landcom, the NSW Government’s land and property development organisation.
The existing building will become three-storeys, without increasing the current height level.
It will be renovated to incorporate up to 38 studios, one and potentially two bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent made available for affordable rental housing.
The rest of the properties will be put up for sale on the open market.
A one-bed unit sold last year in Pittwater Rd, North Manly, for $550,000. A two-bed unit in North Manly is currently on the market with a guide price of $1.1m.
Landcom CEO John Brogden said the 4,000 sqm site on the corner of Pittwater Rd and Lakeside Cres, will be re-purposed into a residential development that will “fit in seamlessly with the character and beautiful natural environment of the local neighbourhood”.
“Landcom is committed to deliver five to 10 per cent affordable rental housing on all of its projects for key workers on low to moderate incomes such as nurses, child care workers, cleaners and retail workers,” he said.
“Landcom is also aware of the local 1,500 women aged 55 and over in the northern beaches who are in housing stress and at risk of homelessness due to family breakdown, underemployment and a lack of superannuation, so we would welcome community housing providers that cater to this group to tender to partner with us on this project.”
Member for Manly, James Griffin MP, said he was proud that Landcom’s Queenscliff project will demonstrate to the rest of metropolitan Sydney that successful partnerships between the community housing sector and Government can effectively address housing affordability concerns.
“This partnership is exactly what our community is looking for with the old Queenscliff health centre site,” he said.
“It ensures that state government land continues to deliver a public benefit by providing a home for some of the most vulnerable and voiceless in our northern beaches community.”
Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan also welcomed the increase in affordable housing for the Northern Beaches.
“Using this site for much needed affordable housing was an initiative I started with the state government almost two years ago.
“The closure of the Queenscliff health centre was an opportunity to increase the range and supply of affordable rental housing so badly needed in our area.
“We constantly hear stories of our key workers travelling long distances to work or couch surfing because of the critical shortfall of affordable housing here. That’s why initiatives like this are so important.”
Neighbours were alerted to the plan in a letter sent out this week where Landcom stated its mission was to “create more affordable and sustainable communities”.
Fences have already been erected around the site.
In the letter Landcom said it would be adapting the existing building to “create new homes that sit comfortably within the local character and nature environment, while also addressing local affordability and the need for a diversity of housing”.
Mark Novak, of Novak Properties, said there hasn’t been new types of accommodation on the northern beaches for decades,
He said people were after their own small self-contained units but were happy to share common areas such as barbecues and outdoor space.
“We have worked with people from the women’s shelters who have a big problem with accommodation and there are many divorcees and key workers wanting practical but not shared housing,” he said.
Mr Novak’s business manages more than 170 small, self-contained apartments on the northern beaches and said co-living is the biggest emerging trend in housing.
“People don’t like the idea of them when applications come in but we haven’t had one neighbour complain now that they are running, the residents are hardworking professionals or single people needing an apartment,” he said
Real estate agent James Eyden, of Clarke & Humel, said studios were popular with executives.
Mr Eyden said there was also a huge demand for affordable accommodation for separate and divorced parents wanting to stay in the area and give stability to children by keeping them at their local school.
An information session will be held for local residents in March who will be able to see the proposals before plans are finalised.
A DA is yet to be lodged with Northern Beaches Council.
The health centre shut around two years ago when the new purpose built $50m Brookvale Community Health Centre opened in 2018.