ACT tribunal to review Goodwin Village Farrer redevelopment

Residents concerned about the expansion of an aged care facility in Woden will air their views before the tribunal this week.

The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal will review the approval of the Goodwin Village Farrer redevelopment during a three-day hearing from March 30.

The ACT government approved the expansion of the existing facility at 22 Marshall Street late last year.

The planned upgrade will more than double the number of independent living units from 73 to 154, with the addition of an extra 22 serviced apartments.

The finished complex will exceed the original maximum four-storey building height to accommodate the extra dwellings.

Eric Glass, who will be representing a group of concerned residents at the tribunal hearing, said he hoped the review would result in the development being scaled back.

The size and height of the complex, diminished solar access at neighbouring properties and increased traffic in the area were among the concerns raised in the 39 submissions made during the public consultation period.

“It’s in the middle of a low density suburb,” Mr Glass said. “Adjoining residents are concerned about the scale of this development, they think it’s quite inappropriate.

“We’re all very happy with the scale of the existing development. Ideally, we’d like to see it remain as it is, particularly as there is an equivalent facility [The Pines] currently nearing completion a couple of sections away.”

Mr Glass said he did not want to preempt the result of the review but believed the group had “some fairly compelling arguments”.

“We’re hoping for the best, obviously,” he said.

Goodwin has previously stated that a rebuild of the facility would boost Canberra’s aged care services, meeting a growing demand for seniors’ accommodation in the ACT.

Chief executive Sue Levy earlier said the organisation had met all obligations under the application process and undertook a five-month consultation prior to submission.

She said the design had been modified before the plans were submitted for approval following discussions with adjoining neighbours .

Changes include 13 additional car parks, moving the building back from the western boundary, and reducing overshadowing by removing part of the upper floor and moving the plant room eastward.

Woden Valley Community Council chairman Martin Miller said his group was still concerned about the size of the development on “quite a small site”, likening the project to a building or complex you would find at a group centre.

He said residents living near the development and in nearby Mawson were mostly worried about the height and size of the project.

“They’re more than happy to have development there but not of that scale,” he said.