Camira locals up in arms over plans for new childcare off busy road

A two-storey, 76-place childcare centre off busy Old Logan Rd is “an accident waiting to happen”, some neighbours claim. HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WORRIED

Residents of an Ipswich suburb are up in arms over controversial plans to build a new childcare centre off a busy road.

Property Projects Australia lodged a development application (DA) in February to build the two-storey, 76-place childcare centre on 1 Woodlands Ave, Camira.

The site presently has a single-storey home and a number of sheds on it.

Since May, residents have lodged formal objections, with some claiming the project put “existing residents and families in danger”.

Access to the centre would be via busy Old Logan Rd.

“I’m not opposed to childcare necessarily, but on a main road that gets very busy during peak hour, it doesn’t sound like the best idea,” Camira resident Brad Curnow said.

“There have been several bad accidents on Old Logan Rd. Congesting the road more will not help this problem.”

Camira resident Brad Curnow is not impressed by the new proposal.

Another Camira resident, who did not want to be named, said they were concerned about traffic and potential oversupply, as there would be three childcare centres within 200m.

“We purchased in Camira due to (it) being a residential area,” she said.

“Old Logan Rd is already congested and it’s the only road out of Camira towards the city.

“I see a need for centres, but centres off Old Logan Rd would be safer and have less of an impact on commuters.”

Property Projects Australia was contacted for comment.

A traffic response report by TTM Consulting showed Property Projects Australia added more carparking spaces and a wider turnaround zone to the plans to reduce congestion and the impact on neighbouring properties.

Online, some other residents said units would be a better fit given the current housing shortage.

While one resident went as far to say that it was “an accident waiting to happen”.

But several others supported the childcare plan.

“I’d be happy to have a daycare option so close to home,” one said.

“Less hassle with work hours and easier for pick ups.”

The site is surrounded by residential dwellings.

The development has houses on three sides, with an AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism centre located to its east.

It site is 650m from Camira State School and 750m from Camira Village Shopping Mall.

The project included four dedicated activity rooms, outdoor play areas on both floors, a reception area, amenities, and service and staff areas.

It would operate from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

How the centre would look from street level.