Posted: 12.02.2024
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has today approved an integrated seniors housing and health services facility at the Neringah Hospital located in the Ku-ring-gai local government area. The applicant HammondCare had sought approval for the Neringah Seniors Housing and Hospital (SSD-45121248), an $82 million state significant development for the demolition of the existing hospital building and ancillary structures and the construction of two new 4-5 storey buildings with 57 self-contained dwellings, 12 residential aged care facility beds and 18 palliative care beds.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure completed its whole-of-government assessment of the Neringah Seniors Housing and Hospital in December 2023. The Commission was the consent authority for this development due to Ku-ring-gai Council objecting to the proposed development. The three-member Commission Panel, comprising Adrian Pilton (Chair), Wendy Lewin and Michael Wright, met with key stakeholders, conducted a site inspection and received a written submission from Ku-ring-gai Council.
The Panel has today, 12 February 2024, determined to grant development consent to the project, subject to conditions.
In its Statement of Reasons the Commission found that the Project is “consistent with the existing strategic planning framework as it will provide services and infrastructure to meet the needs of an ageing population and create opportunities for further establishment of health and support networks.”
The Commission acknowledged the issues raised by Ku-ring-gai Council and concluded that the impacts of the development could be managed and mitigated through conditions of consent relating to accessibility, privacy, residential amenity and traffic. Key issues addressed in the Commission’s Statement of Reasons included built form and design, open space, public domain and landscaping, accessibility, residential amenity, traffic and parking.
Conditions imposed by the Commission to strengthen the environmental management of the development include the requirement for an Accessibility Assessment to determine if a raised pedestrian crossing is required on Neringah Avenue South and minor design amendments to improve residential amenity and the integration of the development with the surrounding character of Wahroonga.
All the documents relating to the assessment and determination of this proposal can be found on the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/2023/12/neringah-seniors-housing-and-hospital
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