Oryx Communities has received a one-year extension on its controversial Melvista Nedlands aged care home – half of the two years it had asked for.
The developer of the $35 million, 90-bed luxury aged care development in Perth went to the WA Planning Commission seeking extra time to commence on the project, which still has not begun construction despite being given 18 months when it was approved in March 2021.
As reported in PerthNow, opponents including the City of Nedlands and nearby resident Matthew McNeilly – a property developer himself – argued that Oryx had shown no signs of “getting on with it”, an accusation that the provider’s lawyer Paul McQueen refuted.
“The building contract has in fact been entered into and project finance is in place. Subject to the extension being granted, work will commence shortly into the first quarter of next year and demolition is ready to proceed. Factual reality demonstrates sufficient effort has been made,” he said.
Commissioner Anne Arnold recommended the one-year extension, saying there was not much evidence that the delay had been caused by shortages, as Oryx had claimed; her recommendation received unanimous support from the panel.
“If, as the proponent’s representatives have suggested today, they are ready to go and they are talking May or June, I would suggest we give them an extension of 12 months,” she said.
