Aged care provider Montefiore bypasses council in plans for multistorey seniors housing

A council’s decision to reject a multistorey plan to redevelop a major Sydney aged care facility hasn’t stopped the operator from pursuing the contentious proposal.

A leading aged care provider has taken a bold step to have a major redevelopment of an aged care home at Hunters Hill approved after opposition from council planners and local residents.

Montefiore is pushing ahead with contentious plans to redevelop its High St facility into a new seniors living and aged care development in a move it says will provide a “range of housing to meet the needs” of the community.

The release of plans earlier this year was met with strong opposition from residents with the proposal dominating council meetings where residents have voiced their concerns over the scale and height of the proposal.

Hunters Hill Council has also notified Montefiore it does not support the planning proposal following a council meeting held last month.

Montefiore has now lodged a rezoning review of the decision – meaning the Department of Planning will lead the assessment process.

A concept image of the proposal.

Plans for the project show the facility would include 144 new seniors living units at the site. There would also be a reduction of aged care beds at the site from the 333 currently operating at the site to 194.

The development would have nine new buildings, ranging in height from two to six storeys, primarily catering for people aged over 55.

The development would incorporate seniors housing and aged care facilities.

In a statement, Montefiore chief executive Robert Orie said the development would be staffed to “ensure no existing resident is displaced”.

“New buildings would be constructed to accommodate existing residents who are located in areas that are to be demolished,” he said.

Mr Orie said he was disappointed by the council’s decision to object to the proposal, claiming it had been “influenced by the objections of a group of local residents”.

“While the objections of a group of local residents was not unexpected, Montefiore is of the view that the decision by councillors to refuse the progress of the planning proposal to gateway determination ignores the significant merit of the planning proposal

“It also denies the wider community the benefit of accessing state-of-the-art seniors housing options in the face of a growing ageing demographic”.

A photo of the site.

The facility was founded by Montefiore back in 1939 and currently caters for more than 300 residents in a nursing home, low-care hostel accommodation and dementia-specific housing at the site.

Sections of the current aged care facilities would be demolished as part of the project – along with 13 residential homes on Gaza Ave which form part of Montefiore’s masterplan for the site.

Resident Heather Armstrong, who has spoken at several recent council meetings, previously told this publication she had concerns the development could “set a precedent” for overdevelopment in the suburb.

“The proposal will have a huge impact on Boronia Park and the surrounding suburb – it will become a mini city,” she said.

The rezoning review means the proposal will be assessed by NSW Planning delegates before a gateway determination will be decided on. Further community consultation will be held as part of the process.