As we covered here, TriCare originally proposed three towers in Taringa ranging from nine to 16 storeys including high care, assisted living units and Independent Living Units.
Hundreds of submissions have been made to Brisbane City Council against the application, saying that the towers are not appropriate for aged care accommodation; are not in character with the low-density housing in Taringa and would create wind tunnels and block natural light for residents, the Brisbane Times reports.
And the Council has agreed. Despite the site being zoned for health care purposes including aged care, city planning chairman Julian Simmonds now says the building heights are “not consistent with what council believes is appropriate for this site.”
In its original application, TriCare stated the proposed height was needed to meet the high demand for retirement and aged care in the area. The over-65 population in the region is predicted to grow by almost 10,000 residents by 2026.
The provider has also revised its plans for a six-storey, 214-bed aged care facility in Ashgrove to 181 beds and a lower height after criticism from residents and council.
The rate of village and aged care developments in Brisbane, many medium to high-rise, has almost doubled in the past year after Council introduced new planning incentives – supposedly to encourage more developments.
A case of ‘give and you shall receive’?
