A new disability care and accommodation centre may be on the way for Bacchus Marsh, with the approval of a planning application by Moorabool council.
The proposal for two community care accommodation buildings over the three lots on Hallets Way came before council on Wednesday, July 19
The buildings will offer specialist disability accommodation (SDA) and respite accommodation (RSA), catering for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants who would have varying abilities/disabilities, including low and high care needs.
The property will consolidate three parcels of land on Hallets Way next to the community centre and include a total of 15 bedrooms, with one resident in each bedroom, and the centre would operate 24 hours, seven days a week with day and night staff rostered onsite.
The application drew one public objection as well as two submissions of support.
The objector said in a submission they are all for building NDIS housing in the suburbs as it is needed by the community, but believed other land around Bacchus Marsh would be better suited for the facility.
They had a variety of concerns which included car park availability, noise from increased garbage trucks, decline in property values, and concern about having drug-affected people in the neighbourhood.
Council officers stated amenity around parking, traffic impact and waste management had been looked into and deemed suitable, and that property values were not a valid planning consideration.
At the meeting, councillor Moira Berry confirmed with council officers the proposed building is not planned to house people suffering from mental illness or drug addiction.
Community planning and development executive manager Henry Bezuidenhout allayed the concern.
“The facility is for people with physical disabilities, so it is a purpose built facility … it’s not designed as an institution whereby it could accommodate for example people with mental illnesses or people with drug addictions,” he said.
