The prolonged process of applications to redevelop the Lourdes Retirement Village in Stanhope Road, Lindfield (explained in (explained here) culminated in a Planning Panel hearing in December 2023. The panel rejected the proposal so the next stage was for the Minister for Planning to consider the panel’s recommendation.

It has now been announced that the minister has accepted the panel’s advice that the proposal was not appropriate because issues such as bushfire risk and ecological impacts had not been adequately addressed.

Nevertheless, the owner, Levande, still has the right to develop the land. The most telling evidence against the proposal came from Ku-ring-gai Council. The Department of Planning has acknowledged this by stating that any new proposal should only be developed in close collaboration with council to address the unacceptable risks.