Estia Health is again reaping the rewards of voluntary community engagement as part of the development process.
Following our success facilitating approval for the redevelopment of Estia Health’s aged care home at Toorak Gardens late last year, we are thrilled to see approval of another of their aged care homes on Victoria Road in Mount Barker.
Both projects utilised the skills of URPS’ community engagement team to inform neighbours and address their concerns. Our development facilitation planners also managed the mechanics of the development assessment process.
For the Mount Barker project, the engagement process had to be tailored to meet safety protocols resulting from the pandemic. Instead of hosting a community meeting, URPS ran a telephone hot line and distributed an information pamphlet with FAQs to over 100 surrounding residents.
Only a very small proportion of people notified made a written representation to Council as part of the Category 3 notification process, and half of these were supportive of the project.
The great design work by architects Marchese Partners and project management by TSA were also instrumental during both the community engagement and development assessment processes.
This experience provides yet another example of how voluntary engagement can be positively utilised as part of the development assessment process.
We look forward to Estia Health delivering this much needed, modern, aged-care accommodation in this rapidly growing region.
