Williamstown nursing home in limbo because of level crossing removal
A proposed $20 million nursing home project has been left in limbo because of the North Williamstown level crossing removal.
The Health and Human Services department entered a contract to sell land at 5 Power Street to Southern Cross Care, with settlement contingent on planning approval for the proposed nursing home.
Southern Cross Care lodged plans with Hobsons Bay council for a three-storey, 96-bed aged care facility in May this year.
But executive manager of strategy Jacqui O’Brien said her organisation has asked the council to hold off on making a decision.
“We’ve just asked the council to not finalise the permits until we know the implications of the grade separation,” Ms O’Brien said.
“I haven’t got any more to add to that.”
The community has lobbied against removing the level crossing, and a group called ‘Keep the Crossing’ has labelled the removal unnecessary.
Group founder Vivienne Gray said she couldn’t fathom why the North Williamstown crossing had been fast-tracked for removal given there were only six trains an hour on the line, but a spokesman for Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the Ferguson Street crossing removal is still in the planning stage.
“The effect of the project on surrounding land will depend on how the level crossing is removed and its final design,” he told Star Weekly.
“[This] will be determined following extensive consultation with local residents and businesses.”