Yamba residents will continue to endure wait times of up to a month to see a doctor with the news the development of a medical centre, pharmacy and four units on Coldstream Street is in limbo, with no anticipated start date.
A Development Application DA to build the medical centre, chemist and four residential units in the Yamba CBD was lodged by Brisbane based Go Ahead Enterprises Pty Ltd with Clarence Valley Council CVC in March 2021 and was approved by council in August 2021.
The site of the proposed $2,002,377.30 development, 17 Coldstream Street, which sold in 2002 for $275,000, last sold in 2018 for $1 million.
Plans reveal the former Op Shop site will feature 18 carparking spaces, six for the residential units, with the remaining 12 shared between parking for the medical centre and the chemist.
The development “will make a significant contribution to the town of Yamba through the addition of valuable essential services to the local area,” the economic and social impact statement said.
Ground floor plans show the chemist and medical centre adjoining each other on the ground floor fronting Coldstream Street, with three doctors’ consultation rooms, a surgery, toilets, a kitchen and reception area in the medical centre.
The four second floor units will each have a separate private balcony of between 18 and 21 square metres, with minimum dimensions of 5m x 3.6m, each of which has direct access to the internal living areas.
“The proposed development will also make a positive contribution to the streetscape by upgrading a currently underutilised and unattractive site into a modern contemporary facility,” the economic and social impact statement said.
“The inclusion of shop-top housing is in keeping with the council’s intentions for increased residential use on upper levels of the buildings in the town centre and will provide for an increased level of activity to the town centre at all hours of the day and night.”
When the DA was on public exhibition before being approved by council, four submissions were received about the proposal, highlighting concerns with issues including the widening of Little High Street and Coldstream Lane, pedestrian safety, car parking, waste disposal, pedestrian access, demolition and removal of asbestos.
With constant pressure on the limited number of local doctors in the Lower Clarence, more GPs in the area is something residents have been calling for since pre Covid.
When the CV Independent asked Go Ahead Enterprises Director John Douglas last week when could locals anticipate demolition and construction to begin, he said there were three factors delaying any progress and he couldn’t say when construction might begin.
Mr Douglass said there are concerns about the escalating cost of building materials, securing a builder and trades for construction, and most crucially, the ability to attract doctors to live and work in the area, which he said was an increasing problem in regional areas.
A council spokesperson said demolition of the site doesn’t require a construction certificate.
“Therefore, the developer only needs to notify Council two days prior to work commencing, which has not yet been received,” the spokesperson said.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 19 July 2023.
