VCAT approves Mullum Mullum Rd and Ringwood St childcare centres in Maroondah

A MASSIVE childcare centre will go ahead in this outer east suburb after the state planning tribunal gave it the tick of approval.

A second childcare centre in Ringwood, at the corner of William St, is before Maroondah Council after another massive childcare centre was approved nearby. Picture: Stuart Milligan

TWO controversial childcare centres in Ringwood look likely to go ahead, despite strong opposition from neighbours.

A 118-child centre at 13-15 Mullum Mullum Rd has been given the green light by the state planning tribunal after first being knocked back by Maroondah Council in December.

It received 112 objections, as well as a 104-signature petition fighting against it.

VCAT senior member Anthony Liston ruled a childcare centre was an acceptable use of the land and said access to the site was satisfactory.

But residents Phil and Judi Alexander, who live two doors down, told Maroondah Leader earlier this year the centre was just not suitable for the area.

“Our biggest concern is traffic: there will be about 260 movements in and out of the facility each day and it will be chaos,” Mr Alexander said.

Neighbour Brian Fitzgerald echoed the concerns and said a lot of elderly residents would be disrupted by the development.

Mayor Natalie Thomas agreed the proposal, from developer Charbrow Pty Ltd, posed design, noise and traffic issues.

It comes amid plans for another childcare centre in Ringwood St, with developer Auscont Holdings Pty Ltd resubmitting revised plans after dozens of residents fought against the development.

The double-storey centre at 87-89 Ringwood St would cater for 92 children and include 20 on-site car parks.

Objector and neighbour Jason Palankay submitted a 50-signature petition to Maroondah Council earlier this year and the developer agreed to revise plans.

The only change is to traffic flow, with an entrance on William St and an added entrance on Ringwood St.

Resident Andres Vidovic said while the changes would help with some aspects of traffic flow, the final outcome was not ideal.

“Once 14 staff have taken up the car spots, the remaining 70-odd traffic movements by parents every morning in probably a 1.5-hour period and then every afternoon will still be causing traffic issues on William and Ringwood streets,” Mr Vidovic said.

“This causes serious parking issues for William St residents as well.”