Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has approved a planning scheme amendment that will facilitate the development of a new residential aged care residence and health and wellness precinct in Currambine.
The proposal was well-supported by the City of Joondalup, which resolved to amend the scheme amendment to progress the proposal in late-2019.
The proposed hub development adjoins Sunlander Drive near Currambine Train Station, generating hundreds of jobs during construction and will support many more jobs once operational.
Southern Cross Care plans to create a much-needed health and wellness precinct for seniors including an aged care residence for up to 138 seniors, including 88 residential care beds and up to 50 age-in-place apartments. The health and wellness precinct will provide access to specialist medical care for seniors.
The proponent of the development, Southern Cross Care, has indicated early works of the first stage will commence in the coming months to help create jobs when they are needed.
Further stages will include additional residential development and medical services for retirees and downsizers, commercial space and shared green space for the community.
The development is well located, within easy walking distance of the Currambine Train Station, nearby parks, and surrounding community amenities.
The scheme amendment involved rezoning a portion of Lot 1 Sunlander Drive in Currambine from R80 Residential zone to Commercial and Mixed Use zones, in line with a recommendation from the City of Joondalup.
This zoning will provide residents of both the aged care residence and the adjacent community with access to a wide variety of essential medical and health services, contributing to an active, street-orientated development which will increase the amenity of the facility.
As stated by Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:
“This is an exciting new mixed-use development that will deliver much-needed aged care beds and housing for downsizers in the growing northern suburbs, creating an active community precinct that will benefit the wider region.
“We made an election commitment to facilitate the development of aged care facilities to cater for our growing elderly population.
“It is a major boost when these sorts of developments integrate with the needs of the local community and offer shared services as this one proposes to do.”
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
“Like other States, Western Australia has an ageing population.
“There is growing awareness of the social and economic benefits of integrating facilities for the aged into wider community developments.
“Residential aged care and home care services are a significant employment generator.
“In addition, access to public transport, essential services and businesses enhances health and mental health benefits for residents of the facility, while the visibility of the aged contributes to a more cohesive society.”
As stated by Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard:
“Fast tracking the aged care precinct is good news and is essential to the future care needs of our community.
“Aged care plays an integral part in the health and well-being of our community.
“It is a very welcomed, and much needed project that will boost our local economy and generate local jobs both during and after construction.”
As stated by City of Joondalup Deputy Mayor Russ Fishwick:
“Late last year we embraced the Southern Cross Aged Care proposal, but we required the Minister’s consent for rezoning from R80 Residential to Commercial and Mixed Use in order to meet the needs of all the new residents.
“Not only will this project deliver much needed aged care accommodation, but also, offer construction jobs in the short term and ongoing employment in the aged care sector in the long term.
“This is potentially a great economic boost for our community – providing local jobs closer to home – and builds on our planning to maximise quality development and related services around transport hubs.”
