Marys Mount childcare centre wins approval despite traffic, access concerns

The Deputy Mayor described Quiberon Way within The Tillage subdivision as "the worst street" for the proposed 95-place centre, given its 'narrowness' and what he said was the high chance of traffic congestion.

"Down the track I think the traffic committee will get involved in this...It will be an issue we'll have to deal with at a later time," Cr Peter Walker predicted.

But despite initial moves to defer the proposal at Tuesday's meeting, councillors approved the development six votes to three following a one-hour discussion. Crs Peter Walker, Margaret O'Neill and Sam Rowland voted against.

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The project at 24 - 28 Quiberon Way, off Marys Mount Road, generated 49 submissions, the majority objecting, including a 40-signature petition. Key issues included traffic generation and parking, its compatibility in a residential area, safety risk to pedestrians and road users, noise, visual intrusion and privacy.

Paramedic Anne Rowley echoed many of the concerns in an open forum address. She and her firefighter husband live just a short distance from the proposal. Mrs Rowley predicted "up to 115 cars twice a day morning and night" would also utilise Success Street, merging at the Quiberon Way junction.

"I'd hate to think someone would be skittled," she said.

Mrs Rowley told councillors that motorists currently crossed the road's centre point and worried a child would be injured with more cars on the road.

The couple moved from Camden recently to plan a "new life and semi-retirement." The Tillage and its 125 residential lots appealed. But Mrs Rowley said the childcare centre contradicted the estate's vision with its commercial focus and design.

"The streets are not wide enough to accommodate such a significant increase in traffic flow," she wrote in her submission.

She called for a redesign, with traffic entering from Marys Mount Road or a smaller facility, if it was approved.

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But Environment and Planning director Scott Martin advised the facility met all requirements of the LEP, development control plan and state policies and guidelines for childcare centres. Further, the road width met standards and an independent traffic count commissioned by the applicant at the council's request had shown that the 19 onsite parking spots at the centre were adequate. This was based on one space per five children.

"We are confident the proposal will work," Mr Martin said.

The centre will operate from 7am to 7pm weekdays and employ 18 staff. It is pegged for a 2100 square metre block that planners say makes "good use" of the sloping block on Quiberon Way, bordering Marys Mount Road.

Proponent Greg Boydell disputed Mrs Rowley's traffic figures, saying counts showed it would be 76 cars of a morning and 57 in the afternoon. In addition, not all trips would occur at the same time and 25 to 30 families in The Tillage expected to use the centre already used the roads.

Traffic analysis was partly based on Mr Boydell and wife, Kelly's other childcare facility in Poidevin Place, Marys Mount.

Mr Boydell said there was "clear demand" for more childcare in the suburb. The couple have operated the Poidevin Place centre and another in Barry Crescent for the past five years. Each accommodate 75 children.

He told councillors during open forum that Goulburn was forecast to grow by 11 per cent to 33,500 people by 2041. The council had stated 2600 new homes would be needed to accommodate this increase.

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Mr Boydell said 583 lots had been approved at Marys Mount between 2009 and 2017.

"Our current centres to the northeast of the site are operating at near capacity and with 125 lots in The Tillage Estate and over 300 in the adjoining Teneriffe Estate...there is undeniable demand for additional childcare spaces to satisfy the community's future needs," he said.

"There has been very limited development of new childcare centres in Goulburn within the last 10 years, despite over 1300 new dwellings being approved between 2007 and 2017."

He told the meeting that such complexes were commonly built in residential areas and the layout and design had achieved a "mix of indoor and outdoor learning spaces."

"We are experienced operators and have never received a complaint from a neighbour at our existing centres," Mr Boydell said.

A childcare centre also exists within the Mistful Park subdivision at Marys Mount, near a cafe.

Cr Peter Walker strongly argued for a direct access to the centre from Marys Mount Road, given the traffic volumes.

"(It) is the worst street in The Tillage (for this development)...and to say that half of the people will come from one direction and half from the other is like picking balls out of a barrel," he said.

He was referring to the fact Quiberon Way could be accessed via two other intersections on Marys Mount Road.

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The Deputy Mayor said he was "very disappointed" a direct entry/exit wasn't considered but following extensive debate, Mr Martin revealed this was prohibited under the development control plan.

By way of compromise, councillors endorsed Mayor Bob Kirk's amendment that parking be prohibited on either side of the centre's frontage.

After the meeting, Mr Boydell said he was pleased with the outcome.

"It was very robust debate and we understand all that but we went through the right process," he said.

"We had a pre-lodgment meeting and were aware that access off Marys Mount Road wasn't permitted."

He told The Post that all parents would park their cars rather than simply drop children off and arrival times would be staggered with an average six-minute stay.

The facility is expected to be operational by mid 2022.

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