23 June 2008
The WAPC has approved a subdivision application which creates a site at Vasse New Town for the proposed Busselton regional hospital.
The broad pattern of development at Vasse New Town is set out in the approved structure plan, which shows the general locations for housing, schools, shops, parks and commercial areas. The structure plan for Vasse New Town sets aside sites for a regional hospital and aged persons’ accommodation.
The WAPC expects the detailed plans for a major project such as Vasse New Town to comply with the approved structure plan. The structure plan embodies a contract between the public and the developer, to deliver a town which meets specific needs, conditions and standards. Since the structure plan for Vasse New Town was approved, the plans for a health campus have changed significantly. The original sites identified in the structure plan for a hospital and aged persons’ accommodation have been committed to other uses by the developer.
The WAPC has been advised that agreement has been reached between the developer and the Department of Health for the sale of land on the other side of the future Busselton bypass for a health precinct, to include the regional hospital and privately-provided aged persons’ accommodation.
On 20 March 2008, the South-West Region Planning Committee considered a subdivision application to create lots for the Vasse hospital, for future hospital expansion, for aged persons’ accommodation and for private health facilities. The committee noted that the land was zoned rural in the Busselton local planning scheme, that the proposals did not have development approval from the Shire of Busselton, that the locations were inconsistent with the structure plan and that there appeared to be access issues related to the future Busselton bypass.
Nevertheless, the committee is supportive of the proposed health precinct and considers the precinct to be in the best interests of the region. The committee considered that it was able to approve the two hospital sites, since these are for a public work, but not able to approve the other sites for uses which were not in the structure plan and would not normally be appropriate in the rural zone. The developer applied to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of this decision, and then withdrew the application on 6 June 2008.
On 16 May 2008, the committee considered new information from both the developer and the Department of Health, and subsequently confirmed its approval for the site for the hospital and approved the creation of an adjoining lot for an aged care facility. The committee received confirmation as to the need, priority and available federal funding for the aged care facility. The committee recognised that the aged care facility would share services with the hospital and would release hospital beds for acute care. The committee also received advice from Main Roads WA indicating that access issues could be resolved. (The WAPC retracted its earlier support for the hospital expansion lot given new information which confirmed that there was no contract of sale in place between the State and the landowner, and therefore; the use of the land for hospital purposes could not be assured.)
The committee refused approval for additional lots intended to accommodate private health facilities. Consistent with long standing practice, the committee expects clear evidence that the land is suitable for the intended purpose. Once the structure plan has been amended and the rezoning of the land has been commenced – or the proposal has received development approval from the shire – the committee will consider approving the creation of the new lots.
The committee dismissed the argument put forward by the applicant that the subdivision proposal was no more than a realignment of the boundaries of existing lots.
The WAPC's decision also ensures that the future reservation of surrounding lands for conservation purposes can be achieved through the planning process, as sought by the shire and previously agreed by the developer.
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Media contact: Natasha Farrell (08) 9264 7518 / 0408 955 604