The Not For Profit has submitted a rezoning review to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment after Hunters Hill Council rejected a proposal to rezone its land.

Montefiore wants to provide 144 new seniors living units in a redevelopment of its Montefiore Boronia Park site at Hunters Hill, 9km northwest of Sydney’s CBD, and reduce the number of aged care beds from 333 currently to 194.

The rezoning requires an amendment of the Hunters Hill Local Environment Plan 2012, which would mean Montefiore could submit further development applications for its vision for ageing in place. The development would have nine new buildings, ranging in height from two to six storeys, primarily catering for people aged over 55.

In a statement, Montefiore CEO Robert Orie said he was disappointed by the council’s decision to object to the proposal, claiming it had been “influenced by the objections of a group of local residents”.

“While the objections of a group of local residents was not unexpected, Montefiore is of the view that the decision by councillors to refuse the progress of the planning proposal to gateway determination ignores the significant merit of the planning proposal

““It also denies the wider community the benefit of accessing state-of-the-art seniors housing options in the face of a growing ageing demographic”.

The rezoning review means the proposal will be assessed by NSW Planning delegates before a gateway determination will be decided on. Further community consultation will be held as part of the process.