By MICHELLE HERBISON
DETAILS have emerged of The Handbury Group’s plans to transform facilities at Torquay’s The Sands resort into a residential aged care facility.
A planning permit application prepared by consultancy group St Quentin sent to Surf Coast Shire detailed plans to transform current facilities into residential aged care comprising 112 rooms, dining and lounge areas, a nurse station, a reception and lobby area and storerooms.
The proposal seeks approval for change of use and associated building works, with an exhibition period open between 5 September and 11 October.
The application identifies a timeline for a panel directions hearing to begin on 25 November for a Planning Minister’s decision on 10 May next year.
The 112 rooms proposed include 69 studios with direct-entry, 14 studios with side-entry, 12 two-bed suites, eight deluxe suites, five disabled studios, three studios with direct-entry at load bearing walls and one studio with direct wide entry.
“The hotel can be readily converted internally to meet relevant regulations pertaining to aged care facilities, which will ensure minimum overall change to the surrounding coastal landscape,” the application said.
Resident Paul Martonhelyi told the Independent earlier this month that residents in the plush golf-oriented resort estate worried the proposed facility could affect their access to resort facilities, lower property values and lead to subdivision of the golf course.
Two hundred residents who attended a recent forum convened by The Handbury Group are set to lodge formal objections to the plans.
The application said Department of Health and Ageing operational ratios found a net deficit of 95 residential aged care places in Torquay.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated Torquay’s over-65s population to reach more than 2000 by 2014.
“The project is well-supported by demographic trends in Torquay that suggest the population is ageing and Australians are living for longer and that the Surf Coast region is currently under allocated in terms of aged care facilities,” the application said.
“The re-subdivision will not result in any physical change to what is currently on the ground. There is not expected to be any conflict with nearby uses such as the golf club and associated car parking and access.
“The proposal is considered to be of a lower impact than the existing use in terms of traffic, noise and general amenity.”
