Landscape Concept by Cola Studio
The Southern Regional Planning Panel has approved a $21.5 million development application for the Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre at 102 & 106 Hillcrest Avenue, South Nowra. Submitted by Papesch Architecture Pty Ltd on behalf of Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation, this purpose-built facility aims to support culturally safe birthing options for Aboriginal women. Approved on November 3, 2024, the project is set to provide both healthcare and community-focused services, with the Panel noting its anticipated social and economic benefits for the Shoalhaven region.
Development Details:
The Gudjaga Gunyahlamai Birth Centre will occupy a single-storey building and feature “Birthing on Country” spaces—a culturally grounded maternity care model supporting Aboriginal women. The design includes extensive landscaping, car parking, and merges two residential lots into a single Torrens Title lot. The Southern Regional Planning Panel endorsed the centre’s alignment with Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan (LEP) requirements and SEPP (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021, which permits health services in residential zones like the R1 General Residential Zone where the project is located.
Facility Overview:
The facility includes several key components:
- Birthing and Family Spaces: Four birthing suites, a family waiting area, and a kitchen dedicated to family use, supporting comfort and privacy during maternal care.
- Health and Community Support Services: A variety of consultation rooms for both medical and non-medical care, spaces for immunisation, and areas for cultural mentorship, designed to accommodate the Birth Centre’s “wrap-around” care model.
- Administrative and Operational Spaces: Offices, a hot desk hub for flexible work, meeting rooms, and ample storage areas to support administrative functions and staff needs.
- Outdoor and Community Spaces: Landscaped gardens, ceremonial areas, and a children’s play area, along with on-site parking and dedicated ambulance access, support both the Birth Centre’s function and its community engagement goals.
Determination Highlights:
In their decision, the Planning Panel cited several reasons for approving the development, including:
- Significant Community Benefits: The Birth Centre will directly support the Shoalhaven Aboriginal community, offering Aboriginal women a place to “birth on country” with dedicated maternity services in a culturally safe environment.
- Compatibility with Surrounding Land Uses: Despite the R1 General Residential zoning, the SEPP allows the development of health service facilities in this area. The project’s design is compatible with both existing and future planned developments, aligning with the region’s evolving residential landscape.
- Environmental Management and Mitigation: The site’s natural landscape will be carefully managed, with conditions in place for stormwater management, noise mitigation, and tree retention. The Panel also endorsed a detailed landscaping plan that includes rain gardens, the retention of indigenous trees, and culturally relevant spaces like ceremonial and grieving areas. An Integrated Water Cycle Management Plan will be implemented to ensure stormwater is managed effectively on site, minimizing any potential impacts on neighbouring properties.
The panel also specified conditions to limit potential disturbances, such as noise from night-time operations. Conditions include noise monitoring and ensuring that waste collection occurs only during the day. A detailed operational management plan is also required to oversee the ongoing implementation of these guidelines.
Key Conditions of Approval:
- Traffic and Access: The site will provide 66 car parking spaces, including accessible options, and pedestrian-friendly connections from the main road. An on-site ambulance bay and separate footpath for pedestrians will enhance accessibility.
- Noise Management: Noise impacts will be monitored, especially at nearby residences, with periodic evaluations and adjustments required to maintain noise within acceptable limits. An acoustically rated boundary fence will be constructed to minimize noise reaching nearby properties.
- Tree Preservation and Landscaping: Key areas of indigenous vegetation and native trees will be retained, with only those directly in the building footprint to be removed. Compensatory planting will occur where feasible.
Project Team:
- Developer: Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation
- Architecture: Papesch Architecture Pty Ltd
- Urban Planner: Claron Consulting Pty Ltd
- Civil and Structural Engineering: Epicentre Consulting Engineers
- Traffic Impact Assessment: PTC Consultants
- Geotechnical Assessment: Terra Insight Pty Ltd
- Biodiversity Assessment: Narla Environmental
- Acoustic Consultant: Northrop Consulting Engineers
- Landscape Design: Cola Studio
For further information, search application number DA2024/1457 on the Shoalhaven City Council website.
