Yerin Aboriginal Health Services has plans to instill new life into the former Japara Aged Care Facility at Mardi and establish a community centre with a range of wellbeing programs for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
After Japara closed in August 2020, Yerin bought the property at 35 McPherson Rd on the banks of Wyong River and set about converting it into a community facility to be run by Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services.
The first development application was refused by the Central Coast Regional Planning Panel in April 2023 mainly because of potential flooding problems which included becoming isolated by floodwaters with few avenues for successful evacuation.
Since then Yerin purchased the adjoining block at 45 McPherson Rd to provide appropriate improved access and carparking for the centre, as well as employing engineering consultants to update the Flood Risk Management Report and Flood Emergency Response Plan, all to ensure user safety.
Yerin has submitted a new development application for the 1.71ha site to create a “culturally enriching and engaging space to address physical, mental, cultural and spiritual needs with the ultimate goal to empower the local community to lead strong, healthy, long lives”.
The range of community services run by Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services are currently spread over six separate tenancies in Wyong and this proposal to re-purpose the nursing home will streamline those services by bringing them together into one building.
It will become a community hub and connection point with support from other services such as Lifeline, Wesley Mission, NDIS providers, visiting health providers and a wide range of other services for education, training, cultural activities, forums and outreach programs.
There will be minor internal alterations and renovations to accommodate the change of use from the 75-bed nursing home but the existing building footprint or height will change.
The new plans for the centre (DA/68/2024) are on public exhibition at Central Coast Council’s website and submissions will be received until Friday, March 22.