By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Traffic concerns have partly led to the scuttling of a proposed child care centre for up to 140 children in Keysborough.
The double-storey centre with 30 on-site parking spaces on the corner of Fabian Court and Chapel Road was rejected unanimously by Greater Dandenong councillors at a meeting on 10 September.
The councillors overruled the council’s city planning department, which recommended an approval.
In an alternative motion, the proposal was said to be an overdevelopment of the 1592-square metre site.
It would lead to “unacceptable traffic congestion”, the motion stated.
Councillor Roz Blades said about 30 residents at a recent planning meeting raised “dangerous amenity issues”.
They alerted the council to “serious” traffic problems in Chapel Road and Sunnyvale Crescent, she said.
Councillor Sean O’Reilly said the section of Chapel Road was “jammed” between Cheltenham Road and Dandenong Bypass.
“The feedback we’re getting from residents is they’re feeling like they’re the meat in the sandwich.”
Cr O’Reilly said the battle but not necessarily the war was won by residents.
If the developer appealed, the council would have to defend its decision on planning grounds to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Cr Timothy Dark categorised the proposal as a “poor” application.
He pointed to the congestion that would be caused in quiet Fabian Court, particularly at drop-off times.
Greater Dandenong’s transport department had “no objections” to the estimated traffic movements nor to access to the site in Fabian Court.
