NSW: Old folks home plan in fire-risk area to get close scrutiny

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2009
NSW: Old folks home plan in fire-risk area to get close scrutiny

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - Plans to house thousands of elderly people in bushfire-prone parts
of NSW will come under close scrutiny, the state government says.

Authorities have labelled a proposed retirement village development at Oxford Falls,
in Sydney's north, as "a disaster waiting to happen", the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Warringah Council has rejected plans for a 60-bed, three-storey nursing home and 500
retirement units on land backing the bush, because of fire and other concerns.

The proposal is now before NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally, who has rejected
claims her department can sidestep important planning considerations to approve developments.

She says the proposal was lodged in 2005, prior to her time as planning minister, but
she has familiarised herself with its details.

"I did not open the door to this application but it is on my desk," Ms Keneally told
Macquarie Radio on Monday.

"What I'm going to do with it is subject it to clear scrutiny, the scrutiny that's
required by law in terms of the Rural Fire Service and bushfire protection, as well as
all the other scrutiny that's required - RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority), Department
of Environment and Climate Change."

Only one road runs through Oxford Falls and opponents of the proposed development say
it would be inadequate for evacuation of the elderly residents in case of fire.

Ms Keneally said she had met Warringah Mayor Michael Regan and visited Oxford Falls
to gain an appreciation of the concerns.

"What is asserted today in the paper, that somehow a developer can make their project
a state project and bypass these essential assessment criteria when it comes to bushfire-prone
land, it's simply not the case," she said.

Ms Keneally added that such proposed developments needed to meet a range of guidelines,
from authorities including the Rural Fire Service, the RTA, and the Department of Environment
and Climate Change.

The proposal is currently open for public exhibition and Ms Keneally encouraged parties
with concerns to make a submission.

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KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW PLAN

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