Objectors have cited traffic concerns, lack of parking and environmental impact as reasons to reject a $383 million holistic hospital development at Berkeley.
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Plans for the eight-stage development, called Life City Wollongong, went on display in March and have prompted a petition from 36 residents of Hopman Crescent, Newcombe Street, Hoad Place, Hunt Place and Warwick Street.
The facility is tipped to include an outdoor holistic "course", incorporating yoga, reiki, laughter therapy, meditation auras and pranic healing.
The residents' petition cites the "severe shortage [of] on-site parking" compared with estimated staff, visitors and patients. Residents said the increased traffic associated with the development would result in "an obvious safety issue, considering the number of young children in the area".
Parts of the development would also create an eyesore, the residents said.
"The proposed self-care units will stand out as there is no possibility of planting any type of screening due to the slope of that area of the subject site," they said.
Other residents objected in separate submissions. Les and Pat Diggins said the development would increase hard surfaces at the top of a hill, causing drainage and land slippage issues. They said the area was a quiet residential-cum-rural area not suited to a "massive" development.
"[It] is totally out of character for the residential area in which it is planned."
The development is earmarked for a vacant 16-hectare parcel of land at the end of Warwick Street. The site is bordered by the F6 and homes. Zoned partly for residential use and partly for environmental management, the area would require zoning changes to accommodate the facility.
Unanderra doctors Mohamed and Anjum Rashid are behind the facility, which would specialise in cancer treatment.
It would include a 350-bed hospital, holistic health facilities, childcare and seniors living centres, a research library, a lecture theatre, serviced apartments for patients and a technical high school specialising in healthcare.
Representatives from the Nan Tien Temple, University of Wollongong and the Guardian Centre Pharmacy at Unanderra have previously written letters supporting the proposal.
Wayne Wheeler, a Berkeley resident and healthcare professional, wrote a submission in support of the development, saying it would benefit the entire South Coast.
"It will bring employment, medical specialty services and much needed private health/aged care and educational options for our community members," he wrote.