I am writing to alert all residents of the Toukley area, that another amendment has been lodged with Council for the Development Application (DA) 222/ 2021 for the change of use from a nursing home to a Boarding house for up to 90 boarders, mostly men.
This DA amendment is the 6th attempt to have the old nursing home at 51 Peel St, turned into a very large boarding house which would be considered one of the largest in NSW.
A boarding house of this size belongs in a high-density area of a large city which would be able to provide appropriate public transport and other services for a large number of boarders.
Its scale is entirely inappropriate in the Toukley area.
Most if not all of the social and other services that would be needed by the boarders, simply do not exist in Toukley where currently locals have difficulty obtaining medical and other services support.
While the developer has made changes in the amendment to improve certain living conditions within the building, by adding ensuites to all rooms and cooking facilities to most rooms, the developer has done nothing to improve internal communal space which remains at 46sqm on each of the levels one and two and only 19sqm on the ground for the total of 90 occupants.
This lack of communal space aggravates the impact that 90-plus boarders would have on the local community.
Parking facilities remain unchanged at only 32 car parks allocated on site for the 90-plus residents. The developer has stated in the DA amendment that boarders will be encouraged to park at nearby Osbourne Park or Toukley Lookout on Peel St which faces the lake.
These areas are currently used by Marine Rescue, The Dragon Boat Club, boat racing clubs, boat ramp users, young families, retirees etc. on a regular basis.
The obvious question would be: Where do we, the community, park our cars when using this public amenity?
The other main concern is that the developer’s Plan of Management refers to quarterly meetings between the boarding house manager, community liaison committee, Police and Council to ensure the boarding house is a “good neighbour” and to address any emerging problems.
I believe it is an outrageous imposition on the local community to expect the duty of operating this boarding house in a neighbourly manner should fall in part on community members and local services.
It is an absurd notion.
I urge readers who are concerned about the proposed development to write a submission to Council, objecting to the issues that most concern them.
Further information can be obtained by joining the Facebook Group “Concerned Residents of Proposal for Boarding Toukley” where a number of points of objection can be taken to assist in the articulation objections to Council.
Please write your submission stating your concerns and send to Council.
Urgent: Note closing date for submissions is Friday week 18th November 2022.
Either post your submission to Wyong Office Central Coast Council PO Box 20 Wyong NSW 2259. Attention: Emily Goodworth or email to emily.goodworth@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
Email, Nov 9
David Paul Isaac
Toukley
Oh leave them alone. People have to live somewhere. It’s always the same with people like you……a pretence of care and concern for the community. The boarders are the community too you know.
Yes I totally agree with you Kerry these poor people probably dont have anywhere to live so just leave them and it all alone