A 102-bed nursing home proposed for Deakin would limit the suburb's light rail options, further exacerbate existing traffic woes and invade the privacy of nearby embassies, schools and homes, according to the local residents' group.
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The Deakin Residents' Association has revealed its strong opposition to Provectus Care's proposal for a two-building aged care facility on Grey Street.
The development would see the Margaret Dimoff Art Gallery demolished and replaced with two buildings, one four-storey and the other five-storeys, aimed at servicing the needs of an ageing south Canberra.
The proposal includes a single level of basement parking for 43 cars and would allow for hairdressing and similar services, as well as rehabilitation facilities such as hydrotherapy and physiotherapy.
Of the 102 beds, 90 would be residential care and 12 assisted living areas for people who can look after themselves but require support with daily tasks.
In a submission against the development, the residents' association wrote that the proposal does not provide enough on-site or off-street parking and suggests the addition of a second level of basement parking.
It pointed out the proposed light rail route from Civic to Woden anticipated a stop at the intersection of Hopetoun Circuit and Adelaide Avenue.
"Indeed, the site is one of few undeveloped pieces of land along Adelaide Avenue available for densification and capable of justifying the light rail expenditure, as has been the case on Northbourne Avenue," the submission said.
"Building a nursing home on the site could discourage light rail patronage compared to other options such as an appropriately sized multi-unit development, as was previously proposed."
As well, the group believes the slope of the land will mean the nursing home will be higher than the nearby Ambassador Apartments, leading to concerns about tenants' privacy.
" ... the new building will overlook (and invade the privacy of) a significant number of residential blocks in Deakin," the submission said.
"The development will overlook the Sri Lankan High Commission and Embassy of Saudi Arabia on the other side of Adelaide Avenue ... It will also overlook the Early Learning Centre and the Canberra Girls Grammar School.
"The suggestion that a few trees planted in the very limited space on that side of the development would address this concern is not realistic."
The developer has previously written that the design team had worked to ameliorate potential issues through "design treatments" and landscaping.
Resolution Planning, hired by the Deakin Residents' Association, has also lodged its opposition to the proposal.
Backing the residents' lobby groups concerns, consultant Ted Streatfeild also listed non-compliance with the Development Control Plan of the site as an issue.
The building and courtyard walling were too high, existing trees weren't being protected and the proposed facility's basement level would be visible from Adelaide Avenue, Mr Streatfeild wrote.
"There is a letter from the National Capital Authority that indicates that there is compliance with the DCP, however it does not specifically address the DCP departures," Mr Streatfeild's submission said.
"This appears legally incorrect in regard to the submitted plans as the height is clearly in breach of the maximum height limit and other provisions of the DCP which takes precedence over the Territory Plan and is not open to interpretation by the approving authority.
"It would be inconsistent with the Territory Plan to be inconsistent with the DCP and the development in its current form should not be approved by ACTPLA."
If approved, the project is expected to take 12 to 15 months to complete with construction to start in the new year.
Submissions on the proposed development closed December 6.
