Chirnside Park childcare centre: 25, 27 Songbird Avenue plan opposed by neighbours

Drivers are cutting through a Chirnside Park street to avoid Maroondah Highway, and neighbours fear a proposed childcare centre will make the “Grand Prix” track even worse.

An applicant behind a plan for a new childcare centre in Chirnside Park is taking Yarra Ranges Council to VCAT after the council failed to make a decision on the application within the statutory time frame.

VCAT will decide the fate of a childcare centre proposal in Chirnside Park, after Yarra Ranges Council failed to make a decision on the plan within the allocated time frame.

Council officers had recommended rejecting the proposal for 25 and 27 Songbird Ave, which was considered by Yarra Ranges councillors at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Mayor Jim Child said he had been advised by officers the applicant had lodged an appeal with VCAT against the council’s failure to make a decision on the proposal within the required 60 statutory days, meaning the council could no longer issue a decision on the application.

But councillors agreed to pass a motion stating if they had been able to make a decision, they would have refused the application.

The childcare centre is proposed to accommodate up to 80 children and 15 staff on site at any one time, with the centre set to operate between 6.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

The plan attracted 32 objections, with residents worried about traffic, noise pollution, danger to pedestrians, vegetation impacts, carparking, oversaturation of the land use, and decreased property value.

Speaking at the meeting, objector James said he and his wife had lived in Songbird Ave since 1976 and had seen “explosive” population growth in the area.

He said he understood the need for childcare, but believed the proposal would adversely effect residents.

Residents say Songbird Ave is not the right location for a childcare centre.

James said Songbird Ave had become an arterial road for heavy traffic, likening it to a Grand Prix track, with motorists and commercial vehicles using it to feed into Lilydale via Edwards Rd, to avoid travelling down Maroondah Highway.

He said residents parked on the street, along with parents accessing Chirnside Park Primary School.

“Adding a childcare centre … would aggravate the (traffic and parking) problem,” he said.

He said residents were alarmed only 17 car spaces would be provided at the centre.

“The safety issue is paramount,” he said.

“The whole concept of a childcare centre in that area is begging for an accident.”

Cr Richard Higgins said Songbird Ave was the wrong spot for a childcare centre.

“I know this street very well – it’s a very, very busy street,” he said.

“And if you ever go down there during the day there are trucks and cars parked along the side of the road.

“The traffic that is proposed to be going there … would be over the top for this street.”