Karalee child care centre: Griffith Group project will be decided by councillors after public hearing

Residents have raised concerns about the facility being built opposite a primary school and adding traffic to an already overcrowded street. The project will now be decided by councillors after significant backlash. Here’s what is next.

A child care centre proposed across the road from Karalee State School will be decided by councillors after a public hearing.

The developer behind a child care centre proposed opposite a school in a quiet and green Ipswich suburb which faced significant backlash from the local community has altered its plans in the hopes of the project ultimately being approved by councillors.

Brisbane developer Griffith Group submitted a development application to Ipswich City Council in March for a 116-place facility across the road from Karalee State School.

The council received 280 properly made submissions from residents concerned about the added traffic it could bring to an already overcrowded Arthur Summervilles Road.

The original plans for the site have been altered.

Objectors asked whether there was a need for it considering there are another three child care centres within four kilometres.

A petition objecting to the centre being built on a 3200 m2 block classed as residential land was signed by more than 800 people.

Teachers at the primary school are concerned about what more cars on the road will mean for staff, parents and students with the school growing.

Enrolment numbers increased by about 100 over the past decade to hit more than 600 students.

About 3000 people live in Karalee.

The council said the applicant had amended its proposal to reduce the capacity to 100 children and 17 staff, reduce the building down to one-storey and increase on-site car parking.

Residents have raised concerns about the development adding traffic to an already overcrowded street.

The application will be reviewed by the council’s Independent Decision Review Panel, with a public hearing to be held on October 14 so residents can voice their concerns directly to the panel.

It is only the second time a public hearing has been held as part of this process in Ipswich, with the first concerning the $50 million Wanless Recycling Park.

Although a recycling centre was approved, a bid to use mining voids for landfill was rejected by councillors.

A decision on the child care centre will be made by councillors in November.

“The IDRP was established by council in 2019 to address sensitive development applications and review recommendations made by our planning officers,” Mayor Teresa Harding said.

Developer Griffith Group has submitted an application in March.

“This ensures a transparent and comprehensive process, and creates an opportunity for community respondents to participate.

“I would certainly encourage anyone who has made a submission during the public notification period to address the panel directly with their views on the proposal.”

Division 4 councillor Russell Milligan said the opinions of both residents and the applicant would be voiced at the hearing.

“Council will then balance the community’s concerns alongside the recommendations of both council and independent technical officers to make its final decision,” he said.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Karalee child care centre: Griffith Group project will be decided by councillors after public hearing