Residential Aged Care: Nursing Home Plans Scrapped

Inmycommunity reported that eight-year plans to build an aged care centre in Wattle Grove have now been scrapped this week by Planning Minister John Day.

The main reason for the plan’s rejection, was the cost of an ‘elaborate sewerage system’ and that short term solutions such as a temporary pumping station would discharge into neighbouring catchments.

Mr Day believed that it was unlikely a single developer could provide the funding for the sewerage system.

Inmycommunity quoted Shire of Kalamunda President Don McKechie who said he was disappointed by the decision because the area is “in desperate need of aged care accommodation”.

However Clive Garnham from the Wattle Grove Action Group said they hoped Mr Day’s decision would put an end to the ‘flawed plan.’

The Action Group have been lobbying against the project since 2004 and believed the Council had deliberately chosen to ignore alternatives to meet the needs of the elderly.

There are still plans to build a new aged care facility in the area.