By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A DOUBLE-storey child care centre for up to 111 children has been approved on the corner of Stud Road and Ann Street, Dandenong, despite objectors’ traffic concerns.
Greater Dandenong councillors approved the proposal on 29 March, arguing the centre on the corner of a residential area would help relieve a child care shortage.
Cr Sean O’Reilly said it was a matter of balancing the great community need against residents’ inconvenience.
He said young children were waiting up to 18 months to land a child care spot.
Any extra traffic would be spread out between 6am and 7pm, rather than just the traditional school drop-off and pick-up periods.
There was no better spot for a child care centre than on a major arterial such as Stud Road, he said.
In support of objecting residents, Cr Angela Long said vehicle access to the centre was on Ann Street, not Stud Road.
She noted in particular an Ann Street median strip blocked access to the centre’s 29-space car park.
“The residents of Ann Street should be able to have a peaceful street that’s not congested during (peak pick up times).”
Cr Long also said she’d hate to do the 480-metre walk from Dandenong’s CBD with a pram and children in tow.
Cr Matthew Kirwan said Stud Road already caused traffic issues at the Ann Street intersection.
“We support more child care places. That’s not a reason to fix one problem by creating another.”
A council report noted the development was compliant with the planning scheme, and would not adversly effect the traffic network, parking nor local amenity.
