By Eleanor Wilson
A group of residents in a Narre Warren North housing estate are concerned plans for a childcare centre near the only entry and exit point to the estate will cause “a traffic nightmare”.
A development proposal for 154 Drysdale Avenue, Narre Warren North, located within the Highgrange Estate, is currently being reviewed by Casey Council, with a decision expected to be made in the next two weeks.
The plans outline a $2.9 million early childhood education facility at the site, which would accommodate 110 places.
But residents say there is not enough demand for another childcare centre in the area, and the location is not suitable for a commercial development.
“This area is residential, plain and simple, it’s not commercial,” resident Sylvia Plaggemars said.
“It’s not the right area for it, we’ve got already, basically an abundance of childcare centres here, there’s not a call for it in this area.”
The proposed location for the centre is located on a corner block, intersecting single lane carriage-way Belgrave-Hallam Road and Drysdale Avenue, which is one lane each-way and the only entrance and exit point for the Highgrange Estate.
Residents fear Drysdale Avenue, which has minimal on-street parking, does not have the capacity to accommodate the traffic congestion the centre would bring, calling it “an accident waiting to happen”.
“We’ve got no other way to go, so it’s gonna be a bottle neck,” Ms Plaggermars said.
“There’s no public transport access along Belgrave-Hallam Road or Drysdale Avenue, so the access is going to have to be by vehicle.
“It’s going to be jammed the whole time, if you’re trying to get you aren’t going to be able to go right or left because it will be jammed with traffic trying to come in.”
Planning documents included in the application show plans for a 24 space car park at the entrance to the centre.
Locals also shared concerns about the risk of young children running on to Belgrave-Hallam Road, where speed is posted at 70 km/h.
“Being so close to a T-intersection, it’s a death trap. It’s an accident waiting to happen,” Mrs Plaggemars said.
There are currently upwards of eight early childhood education centres in Narre Warren North itself, along with seven others in neighbouring Endeavour Hills.
According to the 2021 Census, there were 356 children aged 0-4 years in Narre Warren North.
Good Start Early Learning Endeavour Hills Barnsley Drive centre director Haylea Lowther said there are already five centres in the vicinity of her facility.
While she said the 58-place centre is “approaching capacity”, she said the proposal of new early childhood education centres in the area will cause problems for the sector.
“Eventually its gonna lead to centres having to close down because they won’t have the business they need,” she said.
“It’s a small area and there’s not enough demand in the area for that type of centre to be built.”
The land at 154 Drysdale Avenue already houses a $1.9 million home, which would be pulled down to accommodate the centre.
Deb De Bono, who lives across from the proposed location, said she is unsure of her future as a resident of the estate, should the development go ahead.
“I’m considering do I sell now, or do I wait, but have to deal with the potential of devaluing?,” she said.
“I can’t fathom how they think this is going to work, with the cars going in and out of a driveway.
“The ideal solution is that we want it put back on the market and sold as a residential property.”
The proposal currently has 31 submissions objecting to the development, but given a Development Plan Overlay (DPO) exists over the location, submitters do not have appeal rights should the application be approved.
The DPO means the application was also exempt from public notice requirements, meaning many residents of the estate were unaware of the proposal when it was submitted in September last year.
“The developers can go to VCAT, but we, as residents, can’t. We have no right to appeal. it makes us feel angry and disgusted. It seems very one sided,” Ms De Bono said.
In a statement, City of Casey building and planning manager Tania Asper confirmed no decision has been made on the application for 154 Drysdale Avenue.
“Officers are currently in the process of assessing the application against the applicable planning controls,” she said.
“Officers will also have regard to the ‘submissions’ lodged. Once the assessment has been completed, a decision will be made.”
