Griffith Group One given green light to build childcare centre Eden Academy Brassall at 102 Pine Mountain Rd

A sixth childcare centre has been approved for a slow-growing Ipswich area; a decision which many local residents say could be detrimental to business and make an “already unsafe” traffic area more dangerous.

A Brisbane-based developer has been given the green light to build an 86-place childcare centre at an Ipswich site just a minutes’ drive from four other childcare centres and one approved centre.

Griffith Group One’s application to develop the area’s sixth childcare centre, Eden Academy Brassall, at 102 and 104 Pine Mountain Rd, Brassall was approved during Ipswich City Council’s June meeting on Thursday.

The decision comes mere months after the council approved an application to construct an 100-place childcare centre — Yahka Childcare — on the same road at 214 to 220 Pine Mountain Rd, Brassall.

Another childcare centre, Brassall Child Care Centre, operates just 87m from where Griffith Group One is planning to build Eden Academy.

The council received 22 “properly made” submissions about the proposed development in 15 days, raising a number of perceived issues including that it would make an “already unsafe” traffic area “more dangerous” and increase congestion.

Other submissions stated a new childcare centre would make it difficult for Brassall Child Care Centre to promote itself geographically.

“There are already four existing and one approved childcare centres in the area making it unviable to introduce another one, particularly since there is less population growth in the area compared to other parts of Ipswich,” a summary of the complaints read.

Councillor Kate Kunzelmann spoke to the council’s decision to approve the application during the June meeting, stating that she had heard the concerns and read the submissions of local residents but it was ultimately the right move.

“I acknowledge the submissions from local residents. I have met with residents and understand their concerns,” she said.

“I believe their concerns were well-motivated regarding the safety and amenity of their community, however it is my belief that the reservations they have expressed have been met by the conditions imposed.”

Both the council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have committed to ensuring conditions regarding traffic, footpaths, noise, and stormwater management are met by the developer.

“I note particularly, given the existing childcare centre, that it is not for (the) council to make decisions that limit competition,” Cr Kunzelmann said.

“I have not become convinced that there are sufficient grounds to deny approval of this development.”

A report tabled at the council meeting stated there is currently an undersupply of childcare places in the relevant catchment area and that the new development is “unlikely to result in significant oversupply” out to 2041.

According to plans, Eden Academy Brassall — a single-storey 6.4m-high building with a small 59m2 first floor component comprising a staffroom, staff toilet, and laundry — will be built atop two lots with a combined area of 1970m2.

Yahka Childcare Pty Ltd submitted a development application to Ipswich City Council seeking approval to build a centre in Brassall early last year.

The ground floor of the development will have a total gross floor area of 616m2 and will include a reception area, kitchen, and meeting room, as well as two activity rooms for up to 20 children aged 0 to 12 months, two rooms for up to 30 children aged two to three years, and two rooms for up to 36 children aged three to five years.

“Three separate amenities and storage areas are proposed for each age group and there will also be 603.6m2 of outdoor play areas provided away from the adjoining houses between the proposed building and the street frontages of Pine Mountain Rd and Fahy St,” the plans read.

“The proposed building will be setback 6m from the Pine Mountain Rd frontage, around 2.4m from both the Fahy St frontage and northwest property boundary and around 18m from the southwestern boundary.”

The new centre will have 15 full-time employees and will operate between the hours of 6am and 7pm, Monday to Friday.

A total of 25 carparking spaces will be provided on site, of which 15 will be reserved for staff.