Hudson House in Cooma is facing a possible expansion of its capacity, with dozens of new beds proposed. Photos: Respect Aged Care.
More than 50 new aged care beds could be coming to a small mountain town, according to a proposal.
Plans for an expansion of Hudson House, Cooma, have been lodged with Snowy Monaro Regional Council (SMRC).
Respect Aged Care took over operations of the facility, formally known as Sir William Hudson Memorial Centre, in 2023. It currently offers shared and single rooms.
If the development application (DA) for the site is approved, 53 aged care beds will be added through extensions to its northern and western sides.
This would bring its overall capacity to 105 beds.
A new kitchen and laundry facilities would be installed, parts of the existing building would be refurbished, and 39 on-site car spaces would be added.
According to documents lodged with the DA, the combined works have an estimated cost of more than $19,410,000.
Under the plan, five new bedsits (with ensuites) would be built in the western extension, while 49 new bedsits would be featured as part of a three-storey northern extension.
The latter would also feature a dining room, storage areas, a second staff entrance, administration areas and male and female shared toilets (including accessible ones).
An environmental impact report states that landscape works are featured in the proposal, including plans to cut down 12 trees (mostly silver birch).
“Site preparation works include demolition of selected existing structures/parts of existing buildings and removal of existing hardstand, together with some low-lying shrubs and tree removal on the site,” it states.
There are plans to replant the removed trees.
“In addition, H2o Architects have addressed sustainability through conscious built form and urban design outcomes, maximising crossflow ventilation to and at the same time incorporating solar access (mid-winter) to both indoor and outdoor spaces,” the report states.
“The maintenance of deep soil and soft landscaped areas through the site will also assist with natural stormwater filtration and reduce heat load for the site in summer.”
The documents state that the site is in a bushfire area and while Cooma Back Creek watercourse is located to its west, it is not considered to be flood-prone.
A review of the area’s traffic network describes Hudson House as being located in a “car dependent area”, with no pedestrian footpaths or dedicated cycling lanes in its immediate vicinity.
It also states there is a bus stop several minutes’ walk away, which is serviced three times per day.
This review also recommends that a rock path on the northern side of the property be extended so an emergency vehicle could make a three-point turn safely.
An analysis predicts the expanded facility would generate 21 trips in peak hour travel (and a total of 210 trips each day), which is considered to be adding a ‘low’ amount of traffic to local roads.
Under the DA, an existing driveway from Fachin Avenue would be kept, though it would be extended along the facility’s south-eastern and north-eastern sides.
New reversing areas would also be installed at the ends of the new driveways.
The DA, with the application number of 10.2025.316.001, is under consideration by the council.
