Proposed Narre Warren North ECEC service has residents fuming

A proposed early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in the newly developed Highgrange Estate has some Narre Warren North residents worried, with the development proposal for the service showing it located near the only entry and exit point to the estate, leaving residents concerned about “a traffic nightmare.”

 

The proposal concerns 154 Drysdale Avenue, Narre Warren North, and it is currently being reviewed by Casey Council, with a decision expected to be made in the next two weeks.

 

Should the build go ahead, a 110-place ECEC service will be constructed at a cost of nearly $3 million, however residents say there is not enough demand for another ECEC service in the area and the location is not suitable for a commercial development.

 

Speaking with local news source Berwick News, resident Sylvia Plaggemars said a commercial development in the residential area was unsuitable, and that “it’s not the right area for it, we’ve got already, basically an abundance of childcare centres here, there’s not a call for it in this area.”

 

Located on the corner of carriage-way Belgrave-Hallam Road and Drysdale Avenue, the building would border the only entrance and exit point for the Highgrange Estate.

 

“There’s no public transport access along Belgrave-Hallam Road or Drysdale Avenue, so the access is going to have to be by vehicle,” she continued.

 

“It’s going to be jammed the whole time, if you’re trying to get you aren’t going to be able to go right or left because it will be jammed with traffic trying to come in.”

 

Locals also shared concerns about the risk of young children running on Belgrave-Hallam Road, where speed is posted at 70 km/h.

 

The proposal has received 31 objections since it was posted for comment, however a Development Plan Overlay (DPO) exists over the location, therefore submitters do not have the right to appeal should the application be approved.

 

The DPO also “hid” the application from view, as it renders the application exempt from public notice requirements, meaning many residents of the estate were unaware of the proposal when it was submitted in September last year.

 

To track the progress of the application please see the Council’s website, here. To read the original coverage of this story, see here.