Uniting seniors living tower: Concern over Oxford Street, Epping development
It may look more like a CBD office block, but this proposed $93m development is in fact set to be a 16-storey vertical seniors living village. However, its design has prompted concerns that residents will be left isolated from the outside world. SEE THE PLANS.
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A community is up in arms over a 16-storey apartment tower designed for elderly residents which could soon be going up in Sydney’s northwest.
Aged care provider Uniting has big plans to create a tower for seniors living that will include a 60-bed residential aged care facility as well as a mix of independent living and assisting living units at 45-53 Oxford Street in Epping.
The $93 million ‘Vertical Village’ will also include a four-level basement carpark with 155 car park spaces at the site which is located north of the Epping Railway Station in the area’s town centre.
A public meeting was held on the contentious development at The Sydney Central City Planning Panel on Wednesday.
Janet McGarry from the Epping Civic Trust argued against the ‘Vertical village’ for seniors in light of the pandemic and findings in the Royal Commission into Aged Care.
Ms McGarry said since earlier this year it has come to light that there are “more cracks in the (aged care) system.”
“But here you have an application for a vertical aged care village. 16 storeys for aged care residents stacked up in the air,” she told the panel.
Ms McGarry claimed the “vertical towers” would make the elderly including vulnerable residents living with dementia even more “isolated.”
She said high rise towers for the elderly were not “practical” and claimed low density living would be a better outcome for those in aged care.
Yet Jenny Buchanan who spoke on behalf of Uniting said the company was one of the “largest aged care providers” in Australia and was “experienced” in designing seniors living.
Ms Buchanan said seniors housing for aged care has come along away from what was traditionally provided years ago.
“We have chosen this site because it is in the Epping town centre and within residents to go and do their shopping and it is important to have senior housing available in the town centre,” she said.
On residents who raised issues about an “oversupply” of apartments in the area, she said the aged care provider would not be proposing the development if there wasn’t a market.
“We agree with the council recommendations in their assessment report and hope the panel sees fit to approve the application,” she said.
The Trust also expressed concern over the evacuation plans and questioned how staff members would safely evacuate elderly residents across 16 levels in an emergency.
Yet Ms Buchanan said the building complied with all requirements and Uniting would have it’s own fire evacuation plan.
“We have the required spaces to enable evacuation of people that have mobility impairments,” she told the panel.
Ms McGarry further worried about the lack of outdoor space and “cumulative effect” on traffic in Epping as a result of the towers and influx of new residents.
“There is one small open ground space...the other outdoor space is on a roof 16 storeys up,” she told the panel.
“Words fail me when I think of elderly using that space for recreation.”
Yet Ms Buchanan said the tower would include a ground level open space which includes a cafe and the open rooftop space with different areas suitable for group gatherings.
The panel will make their decision on the application in the coming days.