By Matthew Sims
Highgrange Estate residents fighting against the approval of a childcare centre at 154 Drysdale Avenue in Narre Warren have been met with a setback, with the demolition of the $1.9 million house at the property carried out last week.
Casey Council approved a planning permit for the use and development of a childcare centre on the land on Tuesday 3 October.
The plans outlined a $2.9 million early childhood education facility at the site, which would accommodate 110 places.
Residents said the demolition alone had caused loss of amenity, nuisance and dust.
They called for the use of water to hose the property prior and during demolition, to prevent dust and debris.
The residents said they were unable to open windows due to the dust and air quality.
“This is just the beginning of what will be a long road of disruption and anger for residents,” the residents said.
“If this childcare centre wasn’t wrongfully approved, this would not be happening.
“Trucks of the size that have been removing the house, should not be allowed in a small residential street.
“They are blocking access and God help if someone urgently required an ambulance or fire truck here.”
Bounded by Belgrave-Hallam Road to the north and west, the Princes Freeway to the south and Tinks Road/Ernst Wanke Road to the east, the land has been covered by the Cell ‘K’ Development Plan, which was first adopted on 6 August 1996 and last amended on 24 March 2009.
Under the development plan, a Development Plan Overlay (DPO) also applies to this area, which makes an application exempt from notice and review, as well as appeals via VCAT, if it is generally in accordance with a development plan.
South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Ann-Marie Hermans said the action being taken by residents had been “really incredible” so far.
“I think it’s a sign of democracy and action in our local issues,” she said.
“Nobody seems to be paying any attention.”
According to the 2021 Census, there were 356 children aged zero to four years in Narre Warren North.
A newly constructed and operational centre has been operating less than two kilometres away from the proposed planning permit at 1 Capra Court, accommodating more than 130 children aged six weeks to six years, while another centre accommodates more than 100 children at 280-283 Belgrave-Hallam Road, about 3.5 kilometres away from the proposed development.
Other centres were currently operating in Narre Warren, Narre Warren North, Endeavour Hills, and Hallam, with all centres confirming they were not operating to full capacity and had vacancies available in 2023/2024.
