Council puts conditions on controversial aged care expansion

PLANS for a contentious extension to the Bolton Clarke residential care facility, opposed by Rowes Bay residents including rugby league legend Johnathan Thurston, have been approved by Townsville City Council, but with added conditions.

It follows the councillors having to delegate the decision to the acting CEO because of a conflict of interest arising from a 2016 election campaign donation provided to them by one of the project’s submitters.

In submissions, Johnathan and Samantha Thurston complained that existing traffic and parking intrusions were becoming unsafe and further expansion would increase the risks to children in the neighbourhood.

In another submission, North Queensland Cowboys chairman Lewis Ramsay, also a former North Queensland Newspapers general manager, said traffic counts showed 852 vehicle movements a day at Bolton Clarke, including 561 using residential Havana Street for access rather than Cape Pallarenda Road.

Last month the council’s planning officers determined the proposed development, with the inclusion of appropriate conditions, was compliant with the City Plan 2014.

According to a council statement, the council planning officers carefully considered all submissions as part of the assessment and worked to ensure the development could proceed without adversely impacting nearby residents.

But after residents approached the acting CEO, further conditions were applied.

These included that service vehicles be encouraged to use other access points, reducing traffic on Havana Street, and that the council install a stop sign at the intersection of Havana and Palm streets to improve safety.