Proposal for Cloverdale site to be redeveloped into $4 million community home for people with disabilities

A vacant Cloverdale site could soon be redeveloped into a five-storey community home for young people with disabilities. The proposed $4 million redevelopment would see the site, located at 362 Abernethy Road just 250m from Belmont Forum, transformed into a community home with specialist disability accommodation and overnight assistance facilities. It would also have an open rooftop communal space. Belmont City Council voted 4-2 last week to approve a planning application — submitted by Hemsley Planning on behalf of the owner Platinum Capital Holdings — for the proposed facility. Hemsley Planning director Alex Hemsley said the proposed development was designed to the “most onerous standard” and said it would function as an alternative to nursing homes for young people with disabilities. “Younger individuals with high physical needs are often finding themselves living in nursing homes because there is a lack of appropriate alternative accommodation options that can adequately meet their needs such as the proposed (development). “Nursing homes, designed primarily for elderly residents, are not providing the level of specialised support, accessibility, or independence that young people with disabilities require. “NDIS housing and in turn, this proposal, is a response to Australian Federal Government policy changes made to prioritise these necessary alternative housing options over nursing home placements for younger people with disabilities.” Current zoning means the site can only be used for residential purposes, meaning the applicant is seeking council approval for the site to be used as a community home. But Cr George Sekulla, who voted against the proposal along with mayor Robert Rossi, said the proposed development had issues relating to traffic, privacy and surrounding slip streets. “There’s nothing wrong with the actual design of the development itself, it looks very nice, it’s very fresh, it’s very stylish ... but the concerns that I have related to the size of the lot itself, it’s far too small for that type of development and it doesn’t take into consideration the evolving needs of those individuals that are actually going to live in that environment,” he said. “During the last 30 years, the amount of traffic on Abernethy Road has certainly grown and will keep growing during that period of time. “I don’t believe that the counters that have been used will effectively give an indication to the type of traffic that’s going to be used on that road and certainly as more developments occur in that area, the amount of traffic is going to increase.” In January, the application was advertised for public consultation and received one submission which raised concerns about privacy as a result of the proposed building height, overshadowing, increased traffic and bin collection issues. Cr Christopher Kulczycki said he believed the development would “revitalise” the area. “It is pleasing to see a proposal that incorporates a rooftop terrace and landscaping that provides amenity to its prospective residents and improve the sustainability attributes of the development,” he said. “It is also particularly important that there are housing options for people of all abilities in Belmont so that everybody has the opportunity to live a lifestyle that is supported by a convenient proximity to local community.”