The private operator has lodged plans with the WA Planning Commission (WAPC) to redevelop the former Woodside Maternity Hospital into a $90 million aged care facility, with disability housing and wellness centre.
Heritage-listed Woodside House was built in 1902 in East Fremantle, 13km south west of the Perth CBD, but has been vacant for the last 15 years and has fallen into disrepair.
Under Hall & Prior’s proposal, the Woodside Care Precinct will:
- accommodate 160 people in the residential aged care facility,
- have six supported independent living units in two houses for people supported by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS),
- have a café, and
- the wellness centre will be accessible for both the aged care residents and home care clients.
Hall & Prior told The SOURCE they have been working for more than three years with the Town of East Fremantle on the development, however the Council has advised it cannot approve the proposed Wellness Centre under the definition of ‘nursing care land use’ in its Local Planning Scheme.
As a result, Hall & Prior have taken an updated proposal, accommodating feedback from the Town of East Fremantle and the community to the State Development Assessment Unit (SDAU), which is part of the WAPC.
Family-owned Hall & Prior is one of Western Australia’s largest aged care providers, with 36 residential aged care homes in WA and NSW.
The SOURCE: The fact that the Council has halted these plans because of a feature designed to improve the health and wellbeing of residents is outrageous. More accountability – and expertise – in Councils is needed to ensure that the supply of beds meets demand.