Karalee residents say ‘grotesque’ smell will fill homes if Eden Academy Karalee child care development is green lit by Ipswich council

Foul smelling sewage, safety concerns, house value drops, and noise levels flagged by concerned residents in response to Eden Academy’s major Karalee child care development.

A controversial $3.8m development plan to build a major Karalee child care facility has neighbouring residents concerned about the effect the centre will have on everyday life and retirement plans.

Developer Griffith Group has submitted plans to build a new child care centre opposite a school in Karalee, although the design has since changed since impression was created. Picture: Supplied

The Griffith Group 100-child facility for Eden Academy was planned by the Town Planning Alliance and is currently before the Ipswich City Council, who are yet to decide on the development application.

When the council hosted an independent review panel into the development a handful of adjoining and neighbouring residents strongly opposed the development.

Concerns raised included a ‘grotesque’ odour when the sewage is pumped, unacceptable noise levels, lack of parking, and what it would mean for adjoining homes’ house value.

The Ipswich town of Karalee is home to about 3000 residents. Picture: Supplied

Three doors down from the proposed site, resident of 10-years Brenda Valery said she purchased her home assuming a house would be built on the residential block at 54-56 Arthur Summervilles Road.

Mrs Valery said she is often woken by the “defending” sound of waste trucks idling near Karalee State School when the sewage has to be pumped out.

“The noise and smell generated is grotesque and can be heard and smelt from inside our home… from 80m away,” she said.

Mrs Valery said neighbours who were inching closer to retirement feared they would get less for their house because of the noise and smell of the centre may turn potential buyers away.

Resident of 20 years, Keri-Anne Brown’s home is the only property that would share a direct boundary with the childcare and said the centre didn’t allocate enough parking for the centre, nor was there room on the street.

Mrs Brown said the development’s material change of use before the council doesn’t stack up to the planning code.

“The code is there to protect residents,” she said.

“The 280 plus submission received by council is one of the highest numbers of submissions ever received opposing an application.”

Residents fear the development will only add to already bad traffic issues on the road.

Speaking during the Review Panel on October 14, Karalee Kindergarten and Early Years Learning owner Nerada Atkinsons said the major development would be detrimental to her family business and the community.

Karalee Kindergarten and Early Years Learning is 400m down the road from the development site, and Karalee Community Kindergarten is even closer.

Mrs Atkinsons said the plan proposed for parking was “grossly inefficient’ and unsafe.

“Staff will have to park on roads which are already at breaking point and do not have safe shoulder parking available,” she said.

“Safe access to an emergency point at the car park will not be met.

“It will have a huge negative impact on family’s children and their safety especially when an emergency occurs.”

Town Planning Alliance director Vu Nguyen said the 30 car parks had been worked out by allocating one park per eight children and one park per 17 full time staff members.

Mr Nguyen said analysis of traffic showed there would be little impact as the centre’s peak time would differ from the state school.

Karalee Kindergarten and Early Years Learning owner Nerada Atkinsons said, “we are not a franchise, nor are we funded by seed money from investors keen on seeing what yield they can return on their investment,”. Picture: Google Maps

Kindy owner Mrs Atkinsons said more parking spots were needed for full time employees, as a 100 child facility would need at least 23 to meet the Queensland Education Regulatory Authority.

“They are six car parks short,” she said.

“It’s not always about having bottoms on seats and packing children in like sardines.”

The council plans to make a decision on the Karalee development application in November.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the hearing aimed to bring greater transparency to the assessment process and create an opportunity for the community’s voice to be heard.

“This is only the second time since the IDRP was introduced in 2019 that a development application had been referred to a public panel hearing,” Cr Harding said.

“Given the response from the Karalee community to this application, Council felt it was important they had the opportunity to voice their concerns and hear directly from the applicant.”