Three-level care plans considered
Cape Care is seeking community feedback on a three-storey version of its proposed aged care facility in Dunsborough.
Chairman John Reid said the design was changed after environmental approvals reduced its footprint from 4ha to 1.4ha.
The proposed facility now includes 60 apartments over three levels on the corner of Armstrong Street and Naturaliste Terrace.
“A number of people have said ‘why can’t we build it on the ground?’, but when we explain why they’re far more accepting of the concept, ” Mr Reid said.
“Where we’re building it, the impact of three levels is going to be minimal because people won’t see it.
“There’ll be a bit of roof poking up above the trees, that’s it.”
He said once people understood the design was by necessity, not choice, they were happier with it.
The revised drawings are on display at the Dunsborough shopping centre and the Naturaliste Community Centre.
The Dunsborough and Yalling- up Chamber of Commerce and the Probus Club of Dunsborough have also been asked for feedback.
Mr Reid said Cape Care’s “soft” market research would continue until the end of May, after which it would engage a professional market research company.
“If the indication is that we have demand for what we’re offering we’ll be going to council and asking for full approval, ” he said.
Last week councillors and City of Busselton staff were shown plans for the proposed facility.
Cape Care chief executive Mark Sheldon-Stemm said the response was positive, particularly for a proposed hydrotherapy pool.
“They were quite pleased to see something like that because they’ve been trying to get something in Dunsborough for some time, ” he said.
“If all goes ahead as hoped, we’ll be excavating the ground by this time next year.”
City of Busselton chief executive Mike Archer said concept plans of the potential aged care facility were viewed with interest by council representatives, but Cape Care had not yet lodged a development application.
Mr Archer said before a development of any shape or size could progress, Cape Care must negotiate land tenure issues with the Department of Lands and the City of Busselton to release a parcel of land in Armstrong Reserve.
