A two-storey childcare centre has been approved for Redwood Park despite community opposition
A two-storey childcare centre will be built in a residential area in Adelaide’s northeast – despite opposition from local residents.
North & North East
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A two-storey childcare centre will be built in a residential area of Redwood Park, despite opposition from 33 local residents.
Tea Tree Gully Council’s assessment panel approved the centre at 434 Milne Road on Tuesday morning, which will cater for 82 children between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday and is expected to employ up to 21 staff.
Two houses will be demolished for the $1.5 million plan with its applicant, Adelaide Commercial Investments, arguing the area is “severely undersupplied for childcare places”.
The site is bounded by residential properties to the north and the east while Redwood Park preschool and primary school is nearby.
In a report lodged with the panel, council staff say the centre would “serve the local community with minimal impact on neighbouring properties” with 19 carparking spaces.
“Close proximity to the District Centre and other employment hubs provides the opportunity for workers with children to have convenient access to childcare that may not be readily available elsewhere,” it reads.
However, 33 residents objected to the plan, sharing concerns about traffic and on-street parking impacts on nearby roads and light spill from the carpark into adjoining homes.
And one, Jared Scully, even produced his own independent traffic study from Phil Weaver and Associates.
Mr Weaver found the application had not adequately addressed traffic impacts and potential for a shortfall in on-site carparking.
“There are limited opportunities for overflow carparking generated by the proposed childcare centre to be accommodated off-site, particularly during the morning arrival period and the afternoon school collection period,” Mr Weaver found.
“Given the anticipated number of staff to be accommodated on site, it is quite possible that even just the staff parking demand would exceed the capacity of the subject car park.
“In my opinion (it) does not warrant planning approval.”
Member for Wright Blair Boyer said a resident paying for his own independent traffic report showed “how much concern there is about this development”.
“I share their concern about adding to this already congested intersection during peak drop-off and pick-up times and sincerely hope that ratepayers’ money is not spent down the track to fix problems that have been known to local residents for years and years,” Mr Boyer said.
However, Adelaide Commercial Investments said there would be minimal traffic impacts and independent advice found there would be adequate on-site parking.
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