By Afraa Kori
The rejected proposal for the use and development of a childcare centre at 24-26 Honeyeater Way is set to be overturned in VCAT as Cardinia Shire Council approved amended plans to be permitted in a compromise.
Councillors voted against the permit in last year’s town planning meeting due to concerns about traffic congestion, noise, and inconsistency with the surrounding estate. A key issue was the original entry location on a busy corner at Webster Way, raising accessibility and safety concerns.
The application came back to the council after an appeal to VCAT, with discussions between council officers and the applicant leading to amended plans.
In the town planning meeting on Monday 3 February, all the councillors voted in favour of the officer’s recommendation to approve the amended plans.
Cr Roberts, who moved the officer’s recommendation, is pleased with council officers’ mediation efforts in bringing the plans back and acknowledged this as a step forward in meeting the growing demand for early learning services in the Pakenham area.
“The changes that have been made, meant that the centre can still cater for the same number of children, which is a good thing,” Cr Roberts said.
“Every private childcare centre that can be built in the shire takes the burden off council’s early learning building program. We still need to be building kindergartens.”
Cr Pomeroy, as a seconder, said the provision of childcare across the shire is incredibly important.
“We are a very young community and these types of facilities allow many families to have dual incomes and single parent families to be further supported throughout the day for not only baby care, but also for kinder.”
“My children were fortunate enough to go to childcare kinder because I wanted to work a 9-5 and at that point in time, kinders weren’t flexible enough. I really appreciate that VCAT and the planners will work together to see this one through.”
Cr Thomsen said the amended plans address previous concerns, from traffic to noise, and the modern design seamlessly blends with the area, making it a positive addition to the community.
“With the amended plans with the entry being now on Honeyeater and not on Webster should help alleviate some of these traffic concerns. The amended plans have higher fencing as well to help with some of the noise pollution,” Cr Thomsen said.
