The approval of a luxury aged care home in Nedlands, south west of Perth, is being opposed by Sirona Capital managing director Matthew McNeilly, who lives across from the proposed site, who said the approval was the result of being fast-tracked under new development legislation.

Oryx Communities’ luxury aged care home, The Melvista, will contain 80 aged care suites on Betty Street and Doonan Road and is being designed by Hassell Studio.

But Mr McNeilly said the State Development Assessment Unit, created at the height of COVID-19 to help fast track job creating projects, had been used to avoid community consultation, The Age reported.

“If you’re creating 1000-plus jobs and you’re spending half a billion dollars I get the economic benefit argument of that,” Mr McNeilly said.

“But when you are talking little aged care facilities worth $30 million, where’s the state significance in that?”

According to the DA, Oryx did conduct community consultation, with 88% of respondents agreeing more aged care services and accommodation were needed in Nedlands.

However, almost 600 submissions opposing the development were also received by council.