Home | News | Historic Sydney hospital to be transformed into aged care
Artists' impression of the Waverley facility. Picture: Supplied/Uniting

Historic Sydney hospital to be transformed into aged care

A historic hospital precinct in Sydney's east is set to be transformed into an aged care facility in an effort to "rejuvenate a landmark urban site".

Aged care provider Uniting has proposed a $375m redevelopment for the Waverley War Memorial Hospital site to be developed into an aged care facility.

Documents lodged to the NSW Planning Panel state that Uniting's current pitch was "informed by years of negotiation with Waverley Council".

Plans for the Unting Waverley development will still consider the site's "existing heritage values" while "modernising" the facility.

"The proposed redevelopment of the Subject Site is a rare opportunity to rejuvenate a landmark urban site, which would ... deliver much needed housing and services and create a new vibrant and diverse community hub," the plans stated.

In 2020, the proposal for the project was voted down after the Waverley Council strategic planner raised several issues, including the proposed building height and transport implications.

In 2021, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that aged care residents were left feeling "fearful" as the redevelopment posed a risk of homelessness.

Waverley councillor Elaine Keenan criticised the project as dozens of "frail and elderly long-term residents" had been asked to relocate.

"Limited local care options may see them in remote locations far from their familiar community, relatives and networks such as hospitals and medical services," Ms Keenan told Sydney Morning Herald.

"This is not caring for our elders."

A Uniting spokesperson said residents were placed in nearby Uniting services or another provider and were kept informed throughout the process.

"Since 2017 the residents living on the Uniting War Memorial Hospital site at Waverley have been informed of the intention to redevelop the site and what this means for their housing situation," the spokesperson said.

"There are a few different tenure arrangements with residents on site and Uniting continues to meet its responsibilities regarding these. Every resident's circumstances are different, and Uniting is committed to meeting with all residents individually to discuss these and support any transitions.

"We acknowledge the stress and anxiety change may cause and we are committed to keeping residents updated and informed as the redevelopment progresses through the planning pathway."

The Waverley site forms part of a wider vision for the ‘Uniting War Memorial Hospital’ precinct.

If approved, there would be up to 114 rooms in the residential aged care facility and 230 independent living units.

The housing would be split between multiple buildings, with some used for physiotherapy and one would be a morgue.

Three hundred and seventy-five construction jobs are expected to be created by the development.

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