Development assessment report

PROJECT URBAN – 15104                                                                          July 2016

Shortfall

Combined (existing and proposed) there are 854 approved aged care beds in Noosa Shire. This
indicates a shortfall of 251 beds by 2026 (projected demand for 1,105 beds less 854 existing
beds).

It is important to note that the proposed Arcare facility has already been allocated 90 bed
licences from the Federal Government. Obtaining this license involves a competitive assessment
process by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services. Places are only allocated to
applicants that demonstrate they best meet the needs of the aged community in an aged care
planning region. The assessment is based on two main criterion. The first is based on national
demographic data of elderly residents to validate the places needed. The second is based on
Arcare’s capacity, capability and quality of residences and care. Arcare has achieved this
benchmark and is excited to be able to offer the highest standard of care to the Noosa
community.

Location

There are a very few number of sites both suitable, and available, for retirement villages and aged
care facilities across Noosa Shire. Both the HRP report and Council have previously acknowledged
that the number of suitable sites is extremely low and that this is a huge constraint to providing
high quality aged care.

The Briggs & Mortar report confirms that their investigations also found that ‘the number of
potential candidates sites for residential aged care or retirement facilities in Noosa Shire is very
limited’ (p10). Now that it has been established that the demand for beds is likely higher than
previously thought, it is reasonable to surmise that the likelihood of finding a suitably zoned site
is also further constrained.

Due to the matters raised above, it is likely that most future proposals for aged care facilities will
be on sites which conflict with the planning scheme. Due consideration must therefore be given
to the fact that the planning scheme does not adequately cater for this type of use. Despite this
apparent conflict, merit-based assessment will confirm that the subject site is suitable for the
proposed use.

The specific suitability of the subject land is addressed further in the Town Planning Report
however it is important to note that the HRP report and Council’s 2015 strategic planning report,
both acknowledge the need for locational distribution of facilities across the shire. The following
map shows the proposed site achieves this goal. Furthermore, the proposed facility will be
collocated with the Domain retirement village immediately north of the site, on the north-eastern
corner of Walter Hay Drive and Eenie Creek Road, providing consolidated aged care for residents.




Development Assessment Report                                                              Page 30 of 33
Aged Care Facility
Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville