EARLIER this month City of Swan councillors voted for an officer’s recommendation on the disposal of lots 503 and 504 Paradise Quays but also added in extra points including that the residential aged care part of the proposal should have an earlier start date included in the sale and development agreement.

This followed community concerns about the clarity of the residential aged care facility’s concept, design and operation raised in submissions about the sale of the Ballajura land and after the city administration clarified the residential aged care facility concept would be part of a future development application.

Before they voted unanimously on the motion councillors also added in a point that street trees on Paradise Quays should be retained wherever possible with the developer to provide a robust validation before any permanent loss of trees occurred.

The officer’s recommendation included noting the 29 submissions received and the responses provided in response, authorising the chief executive officer to finalise the disposal of Lot 501 (proposed lots 503 and 504) ensuring all conditions of the sale and development agreement were met along with the inclusion in the condition of sale that Lot 505 (portion of Emu Swamp reserve) be ceded to the Crown, upon finalisation of subdivision.

The recommendation also called for the city to host regular meetings between relevant city officers, the Lakes Estate Action Group and the proponent Wattle Fairway to refine the concept plan to inform a formal development application.

According to the officer’s report feedback related to the concept plan had been shared with the proponent with some amendments made before the public comment period closed.

“These amendments were minor adjustments and included removing reference to proposed Lot 505, amending the boundary line from 501 to 503 and 504, and removal of a fire exit-walkway on the northern boundary of Lot 503 and Bermuda Drive.

“Any further necessary amendments will be addressed through the formal development application process, which will be reviewed by the Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP), pending the council’s endorsement of the officer recommendation to proceed with the sale.’’

The officer’s report said it was clarified that the residential aged care facility concept would be part of a future development application with the buyer to appoint a provider, with design and operational details shared once an operator was secured.

On Wednesday, April 23 Lakes Estate Action Group (LEAG) spokesman and Ballajura resident Bob Becu said the motion, which approved the establishment of a three-party working group was a good move and one that the group had suggested.

“(This was for) the city itself and some representatives of the Lakes Estate Action Group to be a working group to work with the developer about progressing it to development application stage,’’ he said.

Mr Becu said it was positive for the developer and the city to include the community representatives in working on the best outcome.

“It shows that the city has learned a bit from its previous unhappy experience with what was going to be the Southern Cross aged care development.

He said there were two parts to the latest development proposal – the residential part (individual dwellings) and the residential aged care component.

“The community are keen to see that progressed as early as possible,’’ he said.

He said the city’s own aging strategy identified the need for an aged care sort of development.

“Therefore what the community is asking for is completely consistent with the city’s own aged care strategy.’