New childcare rejected

By Lachlan Ellis

Moorabool Shire Council has rejected a new childcare centre in Bacchus Marsh, taking into account neighbouring residents’ concerns about traffic, amenity, and safety.

The motion to approve a new childcare at 113 Masons Lane, Bacchus Marsh came before Council at its Development Assessment Committee on Wednesday 13 December, with nine written objections submitted.

Two objectors also addressed Council before the matter was voted on: Chris Niessen and Peter Veal.

Mr Niessen said the childcare would lead to a major increase in local traffic and parking issues.

“I’m going to go straight to the issues that my wife and I found, in regards to the traffic impact assessment report. The impact assessment report had the following issues: the description of the roadwork network does not account for the significant narrowing of Masons Lane as a result of the new pedestrian bike path from Bacchus Marsh Aqualink project. Another point is that local traffic is not assessed at all, rather an assumption made that it is likely to be low,” Mr Niessen said.

“The parking availability in the locality was assessed on Tuesday the 24th of January 2023, during some school holidays, and in the same week as the Australia Day holiday – hardly a typical morning for this local area.”

The second speaker, Peter Veal, said he had done his own road report and submitted it to Council for Thursdays through to Saturdays.

“A number of cars come in all directions. I put in cars coming each way…there’s a lot of footballers around this time of year, there’d be 40 or 50 blokes that come in their own cars, and there’s people that walk their dogs as well,” he said.

“I live opposite in Young Street, I’ve been there 13 years…the amount of traffic that Masons Lane and Young Street get is a race strip. They shortcut Gisborne Road, even the jumper bars don’t worry people in four-wheel drives. [Especially] school time in the afternoon and morning, when the mothers are running late and going to work.”

Council officers said the applicants were “providing all the required car parking on-site, complying with the Planning Scheme”.

The last speaker was the applicant, Tajit Singh Arora.

“As you know, this area is in demand. If you go to the Department of Education website, this area is a high priority area, it’s in demand for childcares. We’ve reduced the car space, it’s been moved inside, so there’s no issue with the traffic.” Mr Arora said.

An alternate motion to reject the childcare centre application was moved by Cr David Edwards, and seconded by Cr Tonia Dudzik.

Cr Rod Ward dissented, starting a debate.

Cr Edwards argued that while a childcare centre was a permissible use in residential zones, it may “have a significant negative impact on those that live in the immediate area…there is the opportunity to add to what is already a busy road, lots of in and out traffic”.

Cr Ward said that the applicant had “gone to a great deal of trouble to address the concerns”, including reducing the capacity of the facility from 84 kids to 76.

Six of the seven Councillors voted to refuse the planning permit, with the exception of Cr Ward.