Development application due to be heard in Land and Environment Court

A development application to build a childcare centre in a quiet South Hurstville street will be determined in the NSW Land and Environment Court on 18 June, local news source St George and Sutherland Shire Leader has reported.

The matter was to have been heard on 24 May, however the case did not conclude, leaving both the developer and local residents waiting on an outcome. 

Concerning the construction of an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service at 4 The Esplanade, South Hurstville, the development application outlines the demolition of an existing home and tennis court, and the removal of trees to make way for a two-storey childcare centre with basement car park to provide care for 68 children and parking for 18 vehicles.

Georges River Council’s Local Planning Panel (LPP) initially heard the application on 15 August 2019. According to the LPP minutes, panel members voted unanimously to refuse the application after they found the site was not suitable for the proposed development and would have an adverse impact on the surrounding area, and “is therefore not considered to be in the public interest”.

Those hearing the application had concerns about the way the service would be positioned on the site, as well as the design of the outdoor play structure, and the fencing. Other concerns included screen landscaping next to the fence. 

Local resident Carol Chilcott told the paper she has been fighting the development for four years and held an onsite protest the morning the matter was in court, sharing her concern that the development would “ruin the quiet peace of the neighbourhood” and cause property prices to plummet.

To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.