WA residents oppose ECEC development alongside major highway citing safety concerns

Residents in the Melville Council area are concerned about a proposal by Land Holding Three which would see a 79 place early childhood education and care (ECEC) service built alongside a major highway in Melville on the corner of Leach Highway and Worley Street in Willagee.

According to local news source Fremantle Herald Interactive Melville Council is in the process of amending its town planning scheme to ban childcare centres fronting major arterial roads. The proposed service, however, could circumvent the new rules as the driveway would be on Worley Street rather than the highway.

Residents are concerned that the location would be dangerous as it is on a steep hill used frequently by trucks moving to and from the port of Fremantle. Local Kelly Adams also shared concerns about the effects of pollution on children, and that the centre’s location would make it a magnet for anti-social behaviour, being lit from the highway’s lights at night and open for walking into. 

Council has met with local residents, telling them that the application would likely be brought before council to ensure it wasn’t approved by the council’s development assessment committee before being considered by councillors.

The final determination on the future of the service will be decided by the Joint Development Assessment Panel, however councilors can put in strong recommendations for or against the development. 

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