New four-storey building proposed for Tarragal Glen

Looking north across the site of the proposed apartment building with the existing Manor behind.Looking north across the site of the proposed apartment building with the existing Manor behind.

Retire Australia Pty Ltd has proposed to build 54 assisted living units in a new four-storey building on vacant land at Tarragal Glen retirement village, valued at $19.95m.

The application to Central Coast Council has been made under the provisions of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors and People with a Disability) 2004, as an extension to the immediate south of the Tarragal Glen Manor assisted living complex. “The building is to be constructed as an extension to The Manor to allow use of the existing kitchen and dining room and the extensive range of on-site community, recreational and support services already provided in that building,” a Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) submitted to support the application said. “A two-storey maintenance shed and staff room building is to be constructed in the extreme north-west corner of the site immediately to the south of the medical centre and adjacent to the western property boundary near the McDonalds carpark,” it said.

“This building will both replace and rationalise existing staff and maintenance buildings near The Manor, required to be demolished to make way for the proposed apartments. “Consent is also sought for adjustments to the existing back-of-house facilities of The Manor and civil works across the site including excavation, cut and fill, provision of services, construction of footpaths and retaining walls, and adjustment of internal driveways and parking as necessary. “As with the 75 assisted care apartments recently approved at Forresters Beach Retirement Village, and the 70 assisted care apartments currently under construction at Glengara Retirement Village at Tumbi Umbi, the 54 apartments proposed under this application are aimed at addressing the increasing demand for an assisted care product on the Central Coast, allowing existing residents the opportunity to “age in place” within their existing communities,” the SEE said.

The SEE argued that the increase in traffic would be minor and could be catered for by the existing road network within and surrounding the site, and that parking in excess of the SEPP requirements would be provided. The site is burdened by a sewer easement, two rights of carriageway and three restrictions on the use of land, but they have been addressed in the SEE. One of the restrictions is a prohibition on direct access from Terrigal Dve, but the application said no such access was required for the development. According to the application, the building will consist of car parking for 31 vehicles and two buggies on the ground floor, along with scooter parking, lobby, multipurpose room, office, toilets and mail room.

The ground floor will also locate the residents’ café and barbecue area, communal terrace, outdoor seating and landscaped gardens, a village workshop, lift and stairwell. Eighteen one-bedroom apartments will be located on the first floor along with a multipurpose room, interview room and staff touchdown and powder room, residents’ lounge, activities area, informal seating areas and a residents’ laundry with a carers’ room. An enclosed walkway to the existing Manor will also be on the first floor of the new building. A further 36 units will be located on the second and third floors (18 on each floor), along with all the other utilities included on the first floor. There are currently 20 staff employed at The Manor and this is expected to increase by six to cater for the additional residents, and the extended complex will continue to be staffed 24 hours per day, according to the SEE.

Source: DA55728, Dec 5 Gosford DA Tracker, Central Coast Council