By Corey Everitt
A margin of just one vote saw a two-storey childcare centre rejected by councillors, where the proposal was argued not to be in the right location due to significant traffic flow and inconsistency with the estate’s character.
In the town planning meeting on Monday 2 September, councillors considered the proposal for a childcare centre on 24-26 Honeyeater Way right on the corner with Webster Way.
The centre had the capacity for 80 children among five childcare rooms, but was shot down by an alternate motion to reject the permit by Cr Ryan.
In Pakenham’s more densely populated area, council officers put forward an original motion to grant a permit saying the design is ‘responsive’ to the residential context by such measures as including 17 car spaces, acoustic fencing and precise operating hours.
The proposal received seven objections, four more were added during the meeting through resident queries to the council regarding the matter.
“I’ve had 25 residents come to me with their concerns in reference to noise factors, loss of privacy, traffic congestion, the smell and waste of disposable nappies, car parking near the fence line near one of the adjoining houses next door,” Cr Ryan said.
“The area of this development, which is going to be a two-storey building, is mainly single-storey buildings.
“The traffic report is not consistent with what the traffic is at this stage, there have been road works in and around that area and you can’t do a true traffic reading accurately.”
Other objections raised issues with the impact of its construction to the surrounding neighbourhood, for the seconder of the motion Cr Ross said the main concern was the accessibility of traffic.
“Looking at this application, on first glance, I think it looks like a really good business, it looks like it would be needed in Cardinia Shire,” Cr Ross said.
“When you actually drive there and have a look, and I go there quite regularly, you’ll notice that it’s right on the corner where Webster Way is and Webster Way is the main thoroughfare going from McGregor Road to Bald Hill Road, it’s a really, really busy road.
“When you have a really good look, it’s got a centre median strip in the middle of that road.
“That’s where the entrance to the driveway is right on that busy corner, and when you have a think about it the rest of the estate does not have any other businesses like this.
“Unfortunately when I had a look and went through the scenarios of what I’ve just explained, it just isn’t in the right place.”
The application does fit within the area that is zoned as ‘general residential’.
Others countered whether the proposal was out of character and highlighted the 29 conditions that council officers placed on the permit to mitigate potential issues.
“The planning application is very consistent with what we have passed in the past,” Cr Radford said.
“I’m not comfortable to reject this application because I feel it meets all the criteria that we have met before.”
Cr Davies said council officers took expert advice to address each concern and said such centres existed in her ward.
“There are more scary things that children, their nappies in the bin, it’s not like they are left open, not like you do at home, there are strict waste control rules,” Cr Davies said.
“General residential zoning permits childcare centres, it’s a very reasonable use of the land and in Toomuc Ward there are several childcare centres and kinders that are next door to residences.
“I have never ever had a complaint about the childcare centre in Toomuc Ward.”
Cr Ryan’s motion was carried five votes to four with Cr Radford, Cr Davies, Cr Owen and Mayor Kowarzik opposing the alternate motion.
