Tamworth: Planned residential aged care facility development application before council

The development application (DA) for a residential assisted care facility in Hillvue promises all this and more.

Andrew Swane, Tamworth's Brown and Krippner Pty Ltd director, says this is a positive development for the town.

He put together the Statement of Effects report for developers Croft Developments Pty Ltd, which is currently on exhibition at Tamworth Regional Council's website.The report outlines the major boost to the retail and service sectors of South Tamworth as well as the wider CBD, coupled with a construction investment of around $6 million.

If Tamworth Regional Council gives it the green light, it could all be ready to go within six to 12 months.

"Nursing homes are pretty big employers, and this one is well located, as it will be the only one outside of North Tamworth," Mr Swane said.

"North Tamworth is getting a bit congested now, so this will also help to balance it out."

Tamworth was identified as a place with a future need for this kind of residential living arrangement, and The Ringers Road location means easy access to existing medical facilities and shops.

A private bus is set to be available to its residents for essential trips around town.

"It's the conventional wisdom that we need more and more of these types of developments," Mr Swane noted.

"The building itself will blend in and be of a higher standard of design than the current."

He claimed it will be an attractive looking building, fitting in with the current streetscape and profile, but otherwise "it will be a standout for better design than the standard."

30-40 The Ringers Road is zoned B4 Mixed Use, and the facility meets the definition of seniors housing, permissible in that zone.

A busy area, the potential for noise disruption was one of the predicted problems addressed in the application.

"We identified at the time that noise could be an issue with adjoining buildings in terms of traffic," Mr Swane explained.

"We got onto that, and come up with a design that shuts out external noise, so residents in the home will not have the sound of those around them now or in the future."

Mr Swane said the developers "will hit the go button as soon as they get the green light from council", champing at the bit to get everything up and going.

The new facility, which would operate 24/7, will have 144 beds, 71 on the ground floor and 73 on the first floor.

They will be have brick veneer and double brick external walls, timber stud and plasterboard internal walls, concrete slab floors, metal roofing, air conditioning and electric or gas hot water.

The DA ticks several key points in Tamworth council's planning strategies, such as the economic development, housing affordability and ecologically sustainable development strategies.

However the report did point out what it saw as an oversight in the Economic Development Strategy 2016-2021.

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It does not directly recognise the seniors housing industry as a key economic driver in the community "which is a shortcoming".

"However, the development proposed is consistent with this Strategy in that it generates employment and provides for a growing aged population (also not recognised), by providing targeted care and accommodation."

The DA is currently before Tamworth Regional Council, with public exhibition opening on September 16 and closing on September 30.