Neighbours fear aged care facility will ruin Lysterfield’s neighbourhood character

LYSTERFIELD neighbours are rallying against a proposed aged care facility they say is far too big, would create parking problems, drive down house prices and “spoil the area’s serenity”

LYSTERFIELD neighbours are rallying against a proposed aged care facility they say is far too big, would create parking problems, drive down house prices and “spoil the area’s serenity”.

A group of homeowners have banded together to oppose the multistorey retirement home that’s planned to be built at 34 Wellington Rd, backing onto Volks Court.

MILLER’S HOMESTEAD: BACKLASH OVER KNOX COUNCIL’S PLANS TO SELL 19TH CENTURY PROPERTY

MILLER’S HOMESTEAD: HISTORIC BORONIA PROPERTY SET TO BE SOLD FOR MORE THAN $1 MILLION

WANTIRNA CARAVAN PARK: DEVELOPER WINS YEAR-LONG VCAT CASE TO BUILD TOWNHOUSES

The objectors fear the development would be inappropriate for the area, where most lots contain large homes with big backyards.

Neighbours are united in their opposition to the proposed aged care development.

The proposed site for the aged care facility is behind them in the photo at the corner of Volks Court and Wellington Road.

Japara Healthcare Limited want to knock down a single home and build an $18 million 103-bed aged care facility.

According to the application, it would be a four level building, including ground level and basement carparking.

Knox Council has received 12 objections to the application and a decision is expected to be made at a future council meeting.

Darren St Ledger, who has lived in Volks Court five years, said an aged care site of that size would not fit with the neighbourhood character.

“We realise with an ageing population there is a need for aged care facilities, but not on this scale and not at this location,” he said.

“It will spoil the area’s serenity.”

He said the aged care facility would pose potential problems, such as excessive noise from its airconditioners and heaters and odours drifting from its kitchen.

And he said people were worried it would affect property prices.

“The attraction to the area for us was the grandeur and quality of the homes in the immediate vicinity, the feeling of tranquillity, almost like you’re in the country but still in the city,” he said.

He said he was not necessarily against development of a smaller aged care facility “but this, in its current proposed format, is huge”.

Darren St Ledger (middle) and neighbours hold designs of the planned development.

Ian Sellars, another objector from Volks Court, described the plans as “totally inconsistent with the character of the area”.

“The proposed construction is far too large for the site and a vulgar overreach by the developer,” he said.

Knox Mayor John Mortimore said objections can be submitted at any time before the application is determined by the council.

“While the council, in general, recognises and supports the important role that aged care facilities play in our community, the reality is that each and every application is considered on its merits, consistent with the Knox Planning Scheme,” he said in a statement.