Innovative plan from aged care home approved by council
AN INNOVATIVE plan to provide low-cost housing to the aged poor was approved by Toowoomba Regional Council – though the process was not without its hurdles.
Toowoomba
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AN INNOVATIVE plan to provide low-cost housing to Toowoomba's aged poor has been approved by Toowoomba Regional Council - though the process was not without its hurdles.
In August 2019 The Brodribb Home applied to the council to build 15 one-bedroom, self-contained, single storey units on land at 3B, 7A and 9 Brodribb St, Toowoomba City.
Original plans included removing the home at 9 Brodribb St, which falls under the council's neighbourhood character overlay.
At a 2017 pre-lodgement meeting with the council, officers said that as long as a development application was lodged alongside the plans to demolish the home, the project would be code assessable.
But a planning scheme change since then meant the planned demolition became impact assessable, and was not supported by the council.
Adapting the original plans, The Brodribb Home agreed to retain the facade of the character home, converting it into two self-contained units.
The 15 self-contained units will include a single bedroom, ensuite bathroom, kitchen, living and meals area, planning documents said.
"Each of the units will have access to their own private open space areas and to a communal vegetable garden area."
The Brodribb Home CEO Pam Chipperfield said the building of the new units had been delayed until another project was completed.
"It's simply a timing matter - we have a building here that is going to take a year to complete, and we need that open space (where the 15 units are to be built) for that builder to operate from," she said.
"So that's all had to be delayed until further notice because we can't allow other people on site under the legislation."
The Brodribb Home is one of Queensland's longest-running aged care providers and was established in 1898.
In 1998, the home opened its retirement village, located alongside the existing aged care facility in Brodribb St.