Council to rule on childcare plan

By Sarah Schwager
NOBLE Park residents and traders have objected to a proposed childcare centre in the area.
A petition with 41 signatures went before council at its meeting on Monday, 12 September.
The petition highlighted parking and traffic concerns around the proposed site at 11771179 Heatherton Road, Noble Park.
The childcare centre would accommodate 60 children and six staff and would be a privately owned business. The proposal’s applicant, Kosta Sterjov, said an independent traffic report had found the extra cars would not affect traffic.
Mr Sterjov said a childcare centre was needed in the area, particularly an independent centre rather than a chain centre.
He said for such a small number at the centre, there would be enough parking for parents and staff.
About 70 per cent of the children would attend each day, he said, with most parents never entering the centre, spending no more than five minutes to drop them off.
But the petition said the high volume of traffic during pickup and dropoff hours would “result in a highly dangerous situation for the children, bus services, motorists and pedestrians”.
It said traffic travelling along Heatherton Rd was frequently backed up past Jasper Street by traffic lights, which would restrict access to the site even more at peak times. The petition said the centre would further disrupt the traffic flow on surrounding streets.
Noble Park Ward councillor Kevin Walsh said council would have to assess the traffic conditions before making a decision.
“It’s a very busy road. There’s no doubt about that,” Cr Walsh said.
“We’re going to have to think very carefully before making a decision.”
Springvale North Ward councillor Naim Melhem said he had traffic and parking concerns.
Cr Melhem said there had been a lot of opposition to the proposal and he had to take that into consideration.
“The council’s town planners will look at the area and see if there is a need for a childcare centre,” he said.
“Then I, as councillor, will want to see the report for the impact it will have on the community.”
A consultation meeting was to be held last night with the applicant and residents to discuss the proposal.