The Fleurieu Regional Assessment Panel (FRAP) gave the go ahead last week for construction of a new nursing home at Normanville.

Following design changes it approved Development Plan Consent for the St Andrews Boulevard facility, which overlooks the Lady Bay Golf Course. 

Council staff had recommended that the application be refused, although it was not considered to be seriously at variance with the Yankalilla Council Development Plan.

FRAP members visited the site before assessing an amended plan, which changed the siting of the building and the location of the car park area.

The two-storey facility was also lowered to be predominantly 7.5 metres in height with treatments to the façade to assist in breaking up its mass and form. 

The nursing home will provide individual rooms for 64 residents and District Council of Yankalilla Mayor Simon Rothwell says it will enable more elders to remain in the community and create local jobs. 

“Our aged population continues to grow, and we need increased facilities. 

“Through our consultation with older people they told us that staying in their homes and communities is really important to them

“This development will ensure more community elders can continue to stay in the district when the time comes.”

“Another positive of the development is it will create local jobs, as the facility requires 15 staff working across 3 shifts each day, which is great news for our economy. 

“We understand some of the neighbouring properties will be disappointed with the FRAP’s decisions to approve development plan consent,” Mayor Rothwell says.

“We want residents to know that changes were made by the applicant to the siting, height and look of the building to reduce the impact on neighbouring properties. 

“While Council recommended that the development be refused, the FRAP who are an independent body responsible for considering qualifying Development Applications within Alexandrina Council and the District Council of Yankalilla, are the final decision-makers.”

Further information can be found in the 17 August 2021 FRAP Agenda.