5/6/03
The State Government is seeking public comment on a community plan for the future redevelopment of the historic Sunset Hospital site in Dalkeith.
Housing and Works Minister Tom Stephens today released the plan, which was prepared by the Sunset Steering Committee following a 12-month public consultation process.
"It is a plan that recommends up to 82 per cent of the land remains in public ownership, with many of the heritage buildings identified for possible community use," Mr Stephens said.
"The steering committee wants to preserve all the site's heritage buildings and public open space linked to the river foreshore."
Sunset Hospital was originally developed in 1904 to provide shelter for homeless elderly men, and was run as a nursing home until 1995, when the facility closed.
Mr Stephens said the new plan, called the Sunset Community Village Concept, was the first major step in a long-term process - any rezoning of the site would involve further periods of public consultation.
"At the same time, the Government will work with key stakeholders - such as Nedlands City Council and the National Trust - to develop business plans demonstrating how the facility could best be used," he said.
The community concept was based on three key objectives:
- to conserve important heritage and landscape elements;
- to provide for a range of community uses ensuring generous public access; and
- to raise funds from the site to maintain the property and contribute revenue back into the health system.
"This is an 8.2ha property situated by the river in Dalkeith, but it is a site which people from across Perth and the State may have visited in the past, and people from outside the immediate area will have a relationship with it in the future," Mr Stephens said.
"I would encourage all people with an interest in the site to submit their comments."
The Minister said the committee's decision to recommend a new small lot subdivision along Iris Avenue and Birdwood Parade recognised the demand for smaller lots among community members looking to downsize their residences.
"The recommendation was also designed to ensure the restoration and preservation of some of the heritage buildings, and to channel revenue back into the State's health system," he said.
"But the concept plan confines new residential development to 18 per cent of the site and suggests it should be strictly controlled by specific design and planning guidelines to ensure a compatible development."
Mr Stephens also said heritage buildings at the western end of the site were identified in the plan for possible use in housing. However, the committee recommended that the buildings could also be used for community purposes, provided they were compatible with adjacent housing and were financially sustainable to ensure their ongoing upkeep and maintenance.
"Careful consideration of the ongoing financial management of the site was also included in the concept plan," the Minister said.
The Sunset Steering Committee had also carefully considered how the site could be used for aged care purposes, in keeping with its tradition of care for elderly people, but the Community Village Concept Plan has rejected that option.
"The committee has found that Sunset was not a suitable site for aged care use, because it would considerably restrict public access and remodelling the old buildings was not financially viable for the purpose," Mr Stephens said.
He said the public's submissions would be considered, along with the Sunset Steering Committee report, prior to the Government adopting a position on the how the site should be redeveloped and used by the community.
"It's now up to the public to provide their feedback on the community plan," the Minister said.
Copies of the feedback form, concept plan and the committee's report to the State Government, are available at
http://www.dhw.wa.gov.au/sunset The Community Village Concept Plan is also available from all metropolitan local government authorities, and will be on display at the City of Nedlands Council library and the State Library of WA.
The comment period closes on July 17.
Minister's office: 9213 6500
