This petition of certain residents of the ACT draws the attention of the Assembly to the fact that the proposed development of a large hospital-like nursing home on the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Gosse Street, Kingston, will cause irreversible damage to the residential amenity of Gosse Street. The proposed development will route noisy 24/7 traffic onto Gosse Street, with secondary effects on traffic flow on the main arterial, Wentworth Avenue. The enormous, ugly building will dominate the street, Telopea Park and the arts precinct opposite. Residents have offered constructive suggestions to the developer on how to make the proposal better for residents of Gosse Street and for residents of the aged care facility, which have not been accepted.
Your petitioners, therefore, request that the Assembly, the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate do not approve any development application for the site until representatives of St Basil’s Homes:
1. Meet with residents of Gosse Street and the broader community to discuss ways to improve the development application, in at least two public meetings;
2. Conduct a site visit, alongside representatives of Gosse Street residents; and
3. Agree to specific actions to address community grievances with the proposal.
Your petitioners further request that no development application for the site be approved until the Standing Committee on Planning and Urban Renewal’s inquiry into engagement with development application processes in the ACT has had an opportunity to consider this case and deliver its final report.