Bannockburn childcare centres rejected as developers voice disappointment

Plans to develop two childcare centres in a fast-growing area have been knocked back by councillors despite a recommendation for them to be approved.

A render of the childcare centre proposed for Milton St in Bannockburn.

                                             

Developers of two proposed childcare centres in Bannockburn have voiced their dismay following a council decision to knock back both planning applications.

Golden Plains Shire council officers had recommended the planning permits be granted at last week’s meeting.

One application was for a maximum of 90 children in Milton St, the other for up to 128 children in Burns St.

Several members of the public gallery left the meeting in spectacular fashion following the votes.

They were seen shaking their heads and being reprimanded by Mayor Brett Cunningham for speaking loudly as they departed.

Simon Kerr, owner of the Burns St site, said the application ticked all the boxes set out in the council’s planning scheme.

He said $130,000 had been spent over two-and-a-half years to bolster the application’s chances of success.

“While we have a commercial interest in the approval of the development, the interests of a landowner and the wider community don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” he said.

He said the centre would be a “win-win”.

Councillors refused the applications on the basis that the site was unsuitable, it would exacerbate existing traffic and parking conditions, detrimentally impact the amenity of surrounding residents, and was not in line with the existing neighbourhood character.

The Burns St vote was tied at three apiece, with councillors Helena Kirby, Clayton Whitfield and Owen Sharkey supporting the application.

Les Rowe, Ian Getsom and Mr Cunningham voted against the proposal.

As mayor, Mr Cunningham had the casting vote.

Councillor Gavin Gamble was absent from the meeting.

A render of the Burns St proposal.

Mr Sharkey declared a conflict of interest for the Milton St proposal.

That proposal failed after the same bloc of councillors voted against it.

Mr Sharkey said the Burns St applicant has applied for a childcare centre in a commercial zone “and as far as I am concerned it ticks all the boxes”.

The population of Bannockburn is predicted to exceed 12,000 people by 2036, up from about 7900 currently.

Children aged 0-4 years old comprise 7.1 per cent of the town’s current population.

Mr Whitfield said more childcare was good for employment and the liveability of the area.

Mr Cunningham said he was concerned about carparking and increased traffic causing safety issues for both centres, calling both streets a “rat race”.

He added that both proposals were located in inappropriate locations.

A spokesman for the Milton St development said they were disappointed by the result.

“Childcare centres create jobs and help the economy,” he said.

“There is a demand for childcare in Bannockburn and the first thing families do when moving to a new place is check for childcare availability.”

It is understood at least one of the applications will be again come before council next month via a notice of motion.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as Bannockburn childcare centres rejected as developers voice disappointment