Proposed Gisborne centre raises concerns about loss of amenity for residents

Residents surrounding a proposed long day care service in the Victorian community of Gisborne have raised concerns about how the centre would impact their amenity, citing worries about an increase in traffic, noise and road safety issues. 

The proposed centre, on land at 66 Howey Street, Gisborne, is outlined in a planning permit application lodged with Macedon Ranges earlier this year, and would accommodate 116 children and 21 staff, with 25 off-street parking spaces.

For local resident Rebecca Rowlands, the demographics of the community, with young families and elderly people, mean that there are dangers to pedestrians. 

“There are a lot of kids who walk there without adults, including my son, and there is a lot of congestion around school pick up and drop off. If there are cars parked outside and along the sides of the road, there is going to be more obstruction for view,“ she shared with local news source Star Weekly. 

For fellow objector Tracey Button, noise is the biggest concern. 

“The thing that will destroy me is the noise and they propose that they’re going to put up a two-metre-high paling fence and that’s going to stop the noise,” Ms Button said.

“Six houses are within three metres of that fence … or less … I have a full glass sliding window floor to ceiling and my bedrooms next to that, and that building will be less than three metres from those children.”

Ms Button said that she’s not “anti childcare centre” but rather objects to its location because it will disproportionately impact surrounding properties. 

According to Ms Button, there are nine existing centres in the area, many with vacancies, and another four centres have been either approved or are being built.

Macedon Ranges planning and environment acting director Rob Ball said the plan remains under assessment and no decision has been made.

“It is important to note that it is not appropriate for council to provide public opinion on any planning permit application that remains under assessment,” Mr Ball said.

“Council officers will be meeting with the applicant to discuss any concerns raised and if there are opportunities to respond to these concerns. Should design changes be required, the application may need to be readvertised,” he added. 

A spokesperson for the planning company, Jacksons Planning, said the company is unable to comment as it has not yet formally received or viewed residents’ objections.

For the original coverage of this story please see here.