New residential era for Mosman Park precinct

An aged-care provider will build its second facility in Mosman Park after the State Government reclassified the prime Swan River site to help “pave the way” for a residential precinct.

Curtin Heritage Living announced last week it had bought the 2.8ha site at 60 McCabe Street from leading health and disability service provider Rocky Bay.

The site is a short walk from the Swan River and about 2km from the Victoria Street train station.

Rocky Bay will remain onsite for up to 12 months before moving to Belmont.

The amendment will change the land from being reserved for social care facilities to a residential zone, allowing a mix of low, medium, and high-density housing to be built.

The reclassification could also see cafes, restaurants or community facilities built on the site.

Planning and Lands Minister John Carey said the amendment was an opportunity to deliver more housing choice and well-planned density in the western suburbs.

“With the potential to deliver a range of housing options, this redevelopment will help the Town of Mosman Park meet its infill housing targets and supports our broader goal of creating more diverse and affordable, well located housing options across Perth,” he said.

Curtin Heritage Living managing director David Cox said the company would begin creating a masterplan for the site, with demolition set to start in 2027.

The new development will be the company’s second facility in the suburb, joining its RiverSea residential aged care facility on Wallace Lane.

“The site is larger and will enable a range of residential, independent living, and community amenities to integrate with a residential care home,” Mr Cox said.

“We hope to learn from international models and further drive innovation.”

Mosman Park mayor Paul Shaw said the amendment was only one step in a fairly significant process.

“We’re going to have to wait and see what is proposed on the site before we can determine if the build form that ends up there is appropriate or not,” he said.

Concerns arose when the site went up for sale in 2023 amid fears a developer would build a tower up to the maximum 12-storey height limit.

But despite the new amendment not ruling out a 12-storey tower, Mr Shaw was hopeful the development would listen to the community and strike the right balance.

“Community consultation highlighted a need for transitional zoning where it would gradually increase in height, rather than having the tallest buildings closer to the boundary,” he said.

“They took that feedback on board, and it’s been changed to be more of a transition which is really fortunate.

“So I’m hopeful that we can continue down that path and we’ll end up with something that fits within Mosman Park.”

Mr Cox said meeting the needs of the community was a top priority for them.

“As a community-owned and operated provider of services specifically tailored for our local community, we will be engaging with community stakeholders over the six months to a year,” he said.

“We really want this community to meet the needs of local residents now and for generations to come.”