Centre at Anketell knocked back despite developer willingness to compromise

Councillors from the City of Kwinana, Western Australia, have knocked back plans for an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in the suburb of Anketell despite the developer making a commitment to do “whatever is necessary” to get it built.

Plans were lodged with the City to build the 91-place service on Anketell Road, within the Albero estate by applicant Vestco WA. Councillors voted at a November 22 meeting to reject the application, in line with city officers’ recommendation.

A report cited by local news source Sound Telegraph noted that the initial application was “inconsistent with the local structure plan” because the site was designated as “service commercial” and ECEC services are considered by the City to be a sensitive land use and discouraged under the zoning.

The report also noted that the location of the centre, on a key arterial road which is envisaged by town planners to be a freight route and major connector to Kwinana’s future container port may not be the best for an ECEC setting.

Development Director Carlo Famiano spoke at the meeting in favour of the development, saying the local planning scheme listed ECEC services as a discretionary use able to be approved by Council.

“We believe there is merit for a childcare centre to be on this property and within this location,” he said.

Despite Mr Famiano’s comments Councillors unanimously refused the application, with Cr Barry Winmar pointing to the “level of detail” that had gone into the officers’ recommendation and Cr Matthew Rowse saying council should use its discretion to refuse the centre.

“Once Anketell Road is completed it will be a whole different kettle of fish so we should use our discretion in this case and not allow a sensitive land use in this location,” Cr Rowse said.

Read the original coverage of this story here.