The aged care and retirement provider has amended plans for an $81 million project in Lane Cove (12 kilometres north of Sydney CBD) after concerns were raised by neighbours and planning experts.

Australian Unity originally planned to demolish two unused bowling greens and a Music and Cultural Centre to build 82 independent living units, as well as a 70-bed aged care facility, across three buildings.

The provider says the buildings, ranging up to seven storeys high in some parts, would only “appear as two storeys” due to the sloping geography of the site.

As we reported here, the development has been a point of contention since last year, when local residents objected to Lane Cove Council selling the site to Australian Unity due to the potentially negative effect the project would have on the land and neighbours.

Australian Unity has now lodged updated plans for the estate after further consultations regarding the “traffic, ecological and visual impacts, and other technical aspects” of the development.

The updates include recommended measures to reduce the impact on native animals, and a reconfigured design of parts of the building to address the impact on neighbours’ houses.

A sign that consumer advocacy still holds sway.