PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT REPORT - 132001 210127 3 - FINAL VERSION [As Published]

                                  ATTACHMENT 2 – 132001.210127.3 - PLANNER’S REPORT
               1.     PROPOSAL
               The applicant seeks approval to change an existing development approval for a Material Change
               of Use – Stage 3 – Aged Persons Home (20 Beds). The proposal includes alterations and additions
               to the existing residential care facility (Ozcare Noosa Heads Aged Care Facility).
               The minor change application is required to be decided by Council due to the proposed
               Infrastructure Agreement regarding works required to be carried out on Council land for the
               purposes of stormwater works, access and bushfire mitigation measures.
               The existing Ozcare facility has been operating on site since the late 1990s. The applicant states
               that, ‘as a response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Ozcare has re-evaluated its
               accommodation model to ensure the facility meets current legislative and market requirements for
               aged care accommodation, and in particular eliminating shared bedrooms / ensuites as an
               important issue of infection control’. The minor change therefore seeks to remove and/or
               reconfiguring all 24 existing double rooms, providing 48 single rooms in lieu, across the Banksia
               North, Banksia South, Casuarina and Acacia wings of the development. No changes are proposed
               to the Eucalyptus and Darwinia wings of the development (refer to Figures 5 - 8).
               The proposal includes demolition and reconstruction of the existing Banksia, Casuarina and
               Administrative and Services wings, predominately within the existing building footprint. The
               Banksia wing is proposed to also include a second storey and a minor extension to the building
               footprint in the south eastern corner of the subject (refer to Figures 6 & 7). Minor changes are also
               proposed to the Acacia wing, including the conversion of existing patios to additional internal
               bedroom areas, and the addition of an activities room (refer to Figure 8). The applicant has
               confirmed that the Acacia wing homes special care residents who require additional care
               associated with mobility issues and dementia. The proposal to enclose the patios will provide for
               additional internal floor area for support equipment (eg lifters), and noting that the units will still
               open out onto landscaped gardens to the front and rear, whilst the proposal include the addition of
               a communal activities room. As such, the proposal to enclose the patios will not impact on the
               residents’ amenity and access to open space. The proposed alterations cannot be seen from the
               road frontage.
               Although the existing development will be extended to accommodate the new single rooms, the
               overall number of beds provided on-site will not increase. In addition, there will be no increase in
               residents or staff, and as such the proposed changes do not result in a material increase in the
               intensity of the use occurring on-site, with the applicant stating ‘the intent is to improve the overall
               amenity and operation of the facility, while not increasing the number of persons residing on-site’.
               At present the facility accommodates a maximum of 130 persons, there is no proposed change to
               the maximum number of persons to be accommodated.
               The proposed room reconfiguration is detailed in the following table which was provided by the
               applicant:




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Document Set ID: 22389362
Version: 24, Version Date: 05/07/2023