Plans for $2m Nido service on hold while neighbour concerns are addressed

A proposed Nido service in the Perth suburb of Woodvale has been placed on hold to allow the applicant to address design concerns raised by neighbours in relation to the two-storey service, which would replace existing homes at 1 Tara Court and 26 Trappers Drive. 

The main concerns reported by local news source Perth Now relate to the positioning of vehicle access in Trappers Drive to an underground carpark, while pedestrians would be expected to enter from Tara Court, a residential street. 

Residents flagged concerns that the orientation of the building, and that parents may opt out of the underground carpark during congested pick up and drop off times, choosing instead to park on the road or verges of Tara Court. 

The proposed hours of operation for the 82 place service, being 6:30 am to 6:30 pm Monday to Friday, with four Saturday openings of between 8 am and 5 pm were also flagged as a concern by surrounding homes, which house shift workers, elderly residents and people who work from home. 

On initial application, City of Joondalup officers had recommended the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel refuse the application because of its location in a residential area and because of the location of the pedestrian entrance.

Neighbouring resident Fiona Pengelly told Perth Now it was already “hard enough” to get from Tara Court on to Trappers Drive, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times.

Neighbour of the proposed service, Anthony D’Amico also raised concerns with waste and odour, saying waste disposal facilities were proposed to be located just 1.5m from a bedroom in his home, and that the number of children and staff would likely produce significant food scrap and nappy waste. 

In counter arguments, Taylor Burrell Barnett senior associate, David Reynolds, said childcare services fall under discretionary use in residential areas, and this one was proposed to “fill a local need”.

With strong family populations in the area, and limited choice and availability of existing care options, he described the location as ideal, given its proximity to a primary school, public reserve and shopping centre. 

To access the original coverage of this story, as prepared by Perth Now, please see here.