A win and a loss for Bannockburn childcare centres

Golden Plains Shire has verdicts on two Bannockburn childcare centre proposals, rescinding one of its controversial decisions.

A view from the east corner within the site along Milton Street childcare proposal in Bannockburn.

Golden Plains Shire has reversed a controversial decision on one of two Bannockburn childcare development proposals, while doubling down on the other.

Applications for a maximum of 90 children in Milton St and for up to 128 children in Burns St were initially presented at the shire’s June meeting.

Both were refused on the basis that the sites were unsuitable, would exacerbate existing traffic and parking conditions, detrimentally impact the amenity of surrounding residents and were not in line with the existing neighbourhood character.

On Tuesday, councillors Owen Sharkey and Helena Kirby put forward motions for both refusals to be rescinded and lodged motions to grant planning permits for both applications.

Following the meeting, the council’s interim chief executive Michael Tudball said councillors discussed these matters in line with council’s governance rules and made their decisions on these outcomes.

After a lengthy debate, council voted to rescind the Burns St decision and granted the planning permit subject to a range of conditions.

The motion to rescind the decision for Milton St was lost, despite some councillors expressing concern the developers could take the decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Owen Sharkey Golden Plain Shire councillor.

Mr Sharkey said he was concerned the applications had been initially voted down by a the tie-breaker vote cast by mayor Gavin Gamble, who had two votes on the day given one councillor had been absent from the June meeting.

“I do not believe it reflects well on a council if a mayor calls an item, remains in the chair and then uses two votes for a determination against the advice of officers,” Mr Sharkey said.

“This practise does not foster transparent and fair decision making.”

Ms Kirby said she believed Burns St was correctly zoned, with other businesses within walking distance.

“I realise not everyone is going to be happy with having a business across the road but Bannockburn has expanded,” she said.

Mayor Cr Helena Kirby.

Councillor Clayton Whitfield and Mr Sharkey also expressed concerns the Milton St application could also win if it were taken to VCAT.

“It is worth noting that most developers who appeal at VCAT often succeed in obtaining less restrictive condition than those initially set by council — this ultimately comes at a cost to the local community,” Mr Sharkey said.

“While we must consider objections we must also be mindful of the community’s need for childcare centres.”

Simon Kerr, owner of the Burns St site, said at a June council meeting the application ticked all the boxes set out in the council’s planning scheme.

He said $130,000 had been spent over two-and-a-half years bolstering the application’s chances of success and the centre was a “win-win”.

“While we have a commercial interest in the approval of the development, the interests of a landowner and the wider community don’t have to be mutually exclusive,” he said.

The Milton St child care development, however, was knocked back despite concerns from come councillors that VCAT would take the side of the developers.

Originally published as A win and a loss for Bannockburn childcare centres