Chris Dobney
Residents in Ewingsdale are receiving notices about a planned retirement and retail development to be built along Ewingsdale Road adjacent to the new Pacific Highway.
Byron Shire Council has called three public meetings to outline the plan on July 29.
The land, currently known as Lot 101, consists of two parcels on either side of the land earmarked for Byron Central Hospital comprising 7.7 hectares in total.
Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of planning, Ray Darney, said, ‘The building uses would predominately be for seniors housing with a small portion near the existing concrete batching plant dedicated to permit medical centres, business premises, restaurants or cafes and shops’.
Echonetdaily understands the area set aside for retail is proposed to be approximately 3,000 square metres with the retirement village taking up the bulk of the 77,000 square metres.
A council spokesperson said the planning proposal was submitted in May 2013, council agreed that it was an appropriate use and the request was sent to the NSW Department of Planning.
The proposal is currently on exhibition until 12 August 2014 to gather community feedback.
Mr Darney said that following the exhibition if council determines that the additional uses should be permitted, then a development application will need to be lodged and approved prior to any work commencing at the site.
‘The site [adjacent to] the proposed district hospital… will provide for an ageing demographic in our Shire.
‘With the over 65 2021 demographic in our shire being projected to move from 13 per cent of our population currently to 22 per cent by the 2031, council believes this planning proposal should be considered and could complement the future hospital site and the needs of an ageing population,’ he said.
The meetings have been organised by Urban Concepts on behalf of the owners of the site, and will take place at the Ewingsdale Hall at these times: 10am-12 noon, 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm.
What a perfect location to house seniors and aged care facilities.The hospital will be close by for emergency’s and general visits. The shops will cater for the residents of Ewingsadle ,Myocum and Tyagarah ,cutting down on vehicles having to enter Shirley St. The hospital will need to be connected to the West Byron sewerage so why not connect the whole of Ewingsdale and allow for infill development.This will get rid of all those very old onsite septic systems that would possibly be contaminating the Simpson Creek and give affordable housing without having to add the West Byron Development.Incorporate a very large carpark for a park and ride system to get visitors into Byron Bay by bus or future tram line .