Turvey Park childcare centre development refused by council

Wagga Council has made their decision on a controversial childcare centre which some residents claim has ‘flawed’ plans, with the developer fighting back.

A childcare centre in Turvey Park has been denied by Wagga City Council. Picture: Wagga City Council

A childcare centre with the capacity to look after more than 40 children has been knocked back by Wagga Council with residents claiming the “industrial like” development has “flawed” plans.

Turvey Park residents spoke at the council meeting this week in opposition to a $894,300 two-storey childcare development.

Concerns about its height dominating the streetscape, the demolition of two homes and its traffic impact were all aired at the fiery meeting on Monday.

Council documents state the childcare development at 32 Halloran St, Turvey Park would cater for 46 children aged from zero to five.

Existing homes, car parks and fencing would be demolished for the two storey facility which contained four separate rooms with a kitchen, laundry, reception, office, meeting and staffrooms, outdoor play areas and staff facilities.

The proposed site in Turvey Park. Picture: Wagga City Council

The centre is proposed to operate from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and will employ 12 people.

Turvey Park Primary School is only a stone’s throw away from the proposed site while the hospital precinct and Wagga CBD is close by.

It was accepted Halloran St had a high volume of traffic due to the school with the development providing park and vehicle movement area to mitigate impact.

Resident Anne Wild spoke against the development at the meeting where she said the height of the building overshadowed homes and was more “akin” to an “industrial development”.

Mr Wild went on to say the play areas were “inappropriate” for the climate of Wagga during winter and summer.

Anne Wild speaking at the Wagga City Council meeting in opposition to a childcare centre development in Turvey Park. Picture: Wagga City Council

She went as far to say it was “beggars' belief” they would knock down two affordable rental homes in the process during a rental crisis.

Another neighbour Steven Kenyon believed the car park design was of the “bare minimum” and was “flawed”, while the increased traffic would be a “serious safety concern” for children.

“They’re simply creating another unusable intersection,” he said.

Developer Darren White rebutted their points saying the pick up points for day care centres and peak pick up school times were in different parts of the day and lasted only 15 minutes.

Mr White said their centre would be an asset for Turvey Park and the city and would provide a much needed service to the community due to the small number of childcare centres.

After a lengthy debate by councillors, the development was refused.