SMASHES LEAVE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION:

Council officers back $100m development

COUNCIL officers recommend approving a large $100 million aged-care complex in Highton.

Ryman Healthcare’s controversial development will be considered by Geelong councillors tomorrow, following 59 official objections.

Highton residents have won several planning cases in recent months, including a $25 million aged-care development by Japara and a proposed Bean Squeeze outlet.

But they will again have to convince councillors to rule against the City’s planning staff if they are to halt the South Valley Rd venture.

Objections are focused on the impacts of neighbourhood character, traffic, setbacks, overshadowing and parking.

Ryman proposes to offer independent apartments, assisted living suites and a care centre providing hospital and dementia-level care.

A planning report by Sally Beers said all internal and external authorities supported the proposal. She described the project as providing a net community benefit that was in an appropriate location.

“The application allows existing local residents the choice to age close to their existing home … in a place with expert and specialised services at hand,” she wrote.

She recommends supporting the application, subject to 60 conditions. The aged-care facility would be the centrepiece of the site, with its threestorey building hosting 167 rooms, including 60 assisted living suites and 100 care beds.

It will also contain an activi- ties room, a dining room, salon, cafe, library, theatre, pool, gym, reception, meeting room, access to the external bowling green.

The retirement village would offer independent homes across 23 double-storey apartments and 63 single-storey townhouses.

A total of 206 carparking spaces would be provided — 36 more than the planning scheme requires.