Sarina neighbours furious over childcare centre proposed on Reef Dr
A childcare centre planned on a residential street has furious neighbours up in arms, claiming the proposal breaches height covenants, would overload the narrow road, and create unacceptable noise.
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Sarina residents are furious over a proposal to build a two-storey childcare centre on a slim residential street.
Neighbours of the proposed centre at 3-7 Reef Drive in the relatively recent Pacific Parks development have gathered to voice their opposition to the project.
Reef Dr resident Christopher Skopp said the proposal would breach height covenants, overload the narrow road, and create unacceptable noise in the quiet cul-de-sac.
“It wasn’t planned to be here, it was planned to be on Millennium Drive (so) the road access in and out of here is not wide enough,” Mr Skopp said.
“They want a 18-car park … you can’t park 18 cars on this block.
“(Plus) it’s two-storey and the covenant is only one.
“I don‘t understand where they think they’re just gonna fit this in here, and everyone’s gonna be happy with it.
“We built our house here 11 years ago and we wouldn’t have come here if we were going to have a childcare centre right next door.”
Mr Skopp said while childcare was an important issue as a parent to two children himself, a centre that closed about 7pm or later would be unacceptable in a street where “you can hear a pin drop”.
There are four other childcare centres currently in Sarina, the closest being Kids College on Elizabeth St.
The proposal follows news that Grandma’s Place, a childcare provider on Brandon St in central Sarina, would be expanding its facilities.
Proposal plans show five indoor places flanked by two veranda areas leading out to outdoor play areas, supported by a canteen, laundry, sleep room, three toilets, and staffrooms – one of which in the small upstairs area with another toilet.
An acoustics report concludes an “exceedence of the noise limits was predicted due to mechanical plant and outdoor play noise”, but acoustic barriers would bring noise down to a compliant level.
Plans say that it “will have an occupancy of 75 Children and up to 11 staff, as per staff ratio requirements
Another Reef Dr parent, Stacey Kentwell, said she found it “extremely hard to believe” there would be no increased noise with 75 kids turning up each day.
“I know the noise level at my house when my three kids are playing, its horrendous,” Mrs Kentwell said.
“I don’t think it’s fair that we weren’t advised.”
Mrs Kentwell also said she would not buy a house on a street with a daycare, saying she was concerned about damage to her and her neighbour's house values.
Not all the neighbours are dead set against it, with Reef Dr resident Debbie Bell supporting the childcare centre proposal and saying she thought “it’s good to see growth in the area”.
“It‘s a narrow street (but) my thought is that not everyone’s going to come here at the same time,” Ms Bell said.
“I don’t think the amount of traffic would change that much.
“There’s a lot of young families and I just think it’ll promote more people coming here … so I think it’s a good thing.”
As of March 24, Mackay Regional Council alerted the developer to pay a $6,879.80 assessment fee within 20 days or have the application dismissed as not made properly.
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