Eden Hills childcare centre approved by Mitcham Council despite strong community opposition

A controversial childcare centre in Adelaide’s east has been given approval, despite more than 40 written submissions opposing the development.

Angry Eden Hills residents fear a new childcare centre on Shepherds Hill Rd – approved despite more than 40 submissions opposing it – could lead to traffic and safety chaos.

Leyton Property has been given the OK to construct a 108-student childcare centre at 317-319 Shepherds Hill Rd, after demolishing two residential homes.

Development approval, granted by the Mitcham Council Assessment Panel last week, follows heavy opposition by residents.

Council documents show the panel received at least 44 written submissions opposing the location of the centre.

A 56-signature petition was also presented by Eden Hills man Adrian Peace, who said he had grave concerns for the safety of children.

“The amount of traffic up and down Shepherds Hill Rd at peak hour is just monumental – it’s a constant stream of traffic down and up from Blackwood,” he said.

“So the time at which parents would be dropping off their children and then again picking them up in the afternoon is exactly when there is peak traffic on this major arterial highway.

“That I think is a major concern and the reason why this child care centre should not be allowed to go ahead.”

A concept image of the new proposed childcare centre at 317 – 319 Shepherds Hill Road, Eden Hills. Picture: Future Urban.

Mr Peace said the new planning process had also caused frustration.

He said residents trying to be heard had faced a “passing the buck” mentality.

It’s a sentiment shared by Julanne Sweeney, who also expressed her opposition to the panel.

“I am not surprised that they approved it but I think there is going to be a lot of anger when the construction starts because of all the extra trucks it will bring to the area, which is already dangerous enough,” she said.

Mitcham councillor Andrew Tilly, a member of the assessment panel, said development approval had been granted because it met all required criteria under the new planning code.

Documents show the new childcare centre will be separated into six areas, with access to outdoor play spaces.

The childcare centre was approved despite community opposition.

Mr Tilly said he had spoken against the development but in the end, the majority had ruled.

“The development had previously been deferred for a greater consideration of traffic and a landscape plan and they did make some alterations, although I wasn’t satisfied, as the changes weren’t dramatic enough,” he said.

“However, the panel, as a whole, considered them to be appropriate changes, so the development was approved.

“The panel did consider (community feedback) but in the end were influenced by the fact that the development ticked all the right boxes.”

The Eden Hills development will be one of more than 40 new child care centres to open across metropolitan Adelaide.

Already 80 new “long day care centres” have opened in South Australia in the past five years, increasing from 349 in May 2016 to 429 at the same time this year, according to data from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority.