No place for a childcare centre

By Paul Dunlop
PLANS for Cardinia Shire’s biggest childcare centre have been sent back to the drawing board.
Council has labelled it a good proposal in a bad location.
Councillors voted 61 to refuse a permit for the 150berth childcare centre, on the corner of Ryan Road and Princes Highway, at a town planning meeting on Monday.
It remains to be seen whether council’s decision will be the subject of an appeal.
Central Ward representative Kate Lempriere led the decision, saying people living in the area had spoken strongly.
“There has been a great deal of heated debate and concern about this among residents nearby; residents who enjoy a semirural lifestyle,” she said.
“This would change the entire way of life of people in that area.
They have chosen to live there for a reason, otherwise they would have bought in town.
“They want their vegie garden, orchard or whatever. They didn’t envisage that a childcare centre for 150 children was suddenly going to spring up.”
Modelled on an existing operation at Officer, the centre was to have featured a swimming pool and animal farm, along with more traditional childcare facilities.
The proposal was lauded as one of the most innovative and forwardthinking seen by the council but prompted plenty of opposition from residents living in the low density residential area.
Council received more than 70 objections to the application. A packed gallery also attended the town planning meeting to follow council’s debate.
Residents opposing the childcare centre claimed its size was excessive and were concerned it would create problems with increased traffic, waste disposal and pedestrian access.
Council was told Ryan Road was like a rural hamlet and that infrastructure in the area could not cope with such a large development the biggest childcare centre proposed in Cardinia Shire.
State Government authorities had no objection, but shire officers shared objectors’ concerns.
Town planners said the proposal was out of character with the established pattern of residential development in the area and was an overdevelopment of the site.
Town planners had recommended that the application be refused.
Cr Lempriere said she was concerned planning for the development lacked sufficient detail, particularly in relation to waste disposal and pedestrian access.
But she said the proposal had plenty of merit, a view shared by colleagues.
Cr Brett Owen said the decision was difficult.
“This is a fantastic proposal, I believe a lot of people want something like this in Pakenham,” he said. “This would be a very good facility at a different location, I would encourage the applicant to look at other sites.”
Mayor Bill Ronald and councillors Graeme Legge and Doug Hamilton also voted against the development.
Bunyip ward councillor Bill Pearson shared colleagues’ concerns that provisions for waste disposal were inadequate but was otherwise in favour of the centre and was the only one to vote in favour.
“I believe it’s a perfect site, I don’t think it’s enough for people to object and say that they don’t want a childcare centre in ‘our’ area.
“It is an excellent proposal, it really is a groundbreaking facility.”