COUNCIL SAYS NO TO AGED-CARE SITE
A $25 MILLION aged-care facility in Highton has been rejected by the council.
A planning committee led by Cr Stephanie Asher last night decided to refuse Japara Healthcare’s bid to build a three-storey complex on Roslyn Rd.
Japara’s venture would provide 136 beds and a range of ancillary facilities, including a library, salon, cinema, chapel and wellness centre.
Despite the aged-care provider’s application showing there was a need for such facility in the area, council refused the application due to its scale, its impact on the neighbourhood and a lack of on-site parking.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said the community was against the scale of the development.
“I get a sense that the community is not against the development but rather its scale,” Cr Harwood said.
Cr Pat Murnane said: “Put simply, the impact on the Highton community from this proposal is beyond the acceptable level.”
A town planning consultant who spoke on behalf of the application said: “It is a fair proposal in the context of planning controls.”
Council officers had recommended issuing a planning permit, subject to 24 conditions.
The proposal had received 43 objections — more than 10 of which were heard at the meeting last night — with the majority of concerns focused on the impacts it would have on traffic, neighbourhood character and amenity.
The size of the building — which has a maximum height of 11.75m from ground level — was also an issue.
Neighbour Sue Hartnett previously told the Geelong Advertiser her home would become “unliveable” if the facility was built.
“If this goes ahead, it’s the amenity and neighbourhood character that will be lost forever,” Ms Hartnett said.
“Once they’re gone, you can’t get them back.”
According to the application, the venture would have created dozens of ongoing jobs, with Japara noting the 24-7 complex would have 35 staff on-site during its peak morning shift.
Japara presented 2016 census data that showed 2229 residents — about 12.9 per cent of the population — were aged 70 years or older.
While that percentage is mirrored across the City of Greater Geelong, Japara said there was a lack of agedcare facilities near Highton, with the closest 3km away.
Objectors vowed to fight the proposal at VCAT if it was approved.