Neighbours are strongly opposing plans to build a senior home development opposite a childcare centre in Newport, citing a possible increase in traffic and noise.
The $4.7 million development of a senior home on Bardo Road consists of six units for independent living. Each unit has three bedrooms and a large open-plan kitchen leading to the kitchen and the dining area.
The property will also have basement parking and additional two parking spaces per unit. The building’s proposed height is just below the maximum standard for the area.
The plan, detailed in DA2023/0045, aligns with the needed supply for senior housing within the NSW Government’s State Environmental Planning Policy. However, neighbours deem the development inappropriate for the community given its location opposite a kindergarten facility.
“Bardo Road is already past capacity from a traffic management perspective,” one local cited in the submissions. “It simply can’t support a development at the proposed scale without serious or life-threatening implications; thus, creating a dangerous safety hazard for our children and residents.
“There are currently very few parking spaces as it is and no complete footpath on the southern side of the road. It’s already dangerous enough with cars racing down the street at 50kph plus while we’re walking or riding with my family to the park, shops, beach or local businesses. Our kids attend Bardo Road kindy and we know first hand how dangerous the road and the traffic flow already is.”
“The proposed development at 36 Bardo Road of 6 three-bedroom apartments with an underground garage will impact adversely on the streetscape of Bardo Road. It is at odds with the prevailing “face” of this residential street,” said another resident.
“It will increase the amount of traffic in an already narrow and busy thoroughfare. It will be situated directly opposite the Bardo Road Kindergarten and child care centre at 41 Bardo Road, already a congested and dangerous area, particularly at dropping off and picking up times.”
In 2020, the Council rejected a similar senior housing development proposal for the same site because the self-contained homes needed to be in keeping with the character and the neighbourhood streetscape. It was also denied due to the potential impact on the wildlife corridors around Newport.
Council is still assessing DA2023/0045, which was lodged in January 2023.
Published 15 March 2023
