By Matthew Sims
South-Eastern Metropolitan MP Ann-Marie Hermans has called for clarity as to why a new childcare centre has been approved at 1 Grantchester Road in Narre Warren North despite a raft of proposed or approved childcare centres nearby.
During the Legislative Council sitting on Tuesday 1 August, she raised a motion calling for reasons behind the number of approvals, with an existing application also for 154 Drysdale Avenue, Narre Warren North
“Advice from Casey council is that a decision will be made shortly, but now we hear that a new childcare centre has been approved at 1 Grantchester Road, Narre North, and locals say this is 300 metres from the other childcare centre,” she said.
“With every childcare centre in this vicinity not operating at full capacity and with confirmed vacancies for 2023 and 2024, we want to know why 1 Grantchester Road, Narre North, has been granted an approval for a childcare centre in such close proximity to two centres nearby – and three applications are all also underway.”
Speaking again on the the 154 Drysdale Avenue application during the Legislative Council sitting on Wednesday 16 August, Ms Hermans said Casey Council was unable to provide her office with a specific date.
“I was advised by Casey council over three weeks ago that a decision was pending,” she said.
“In fact every time we contact the council they say we will have a decision in a couple of weeks, and that has been going on for many weeks now.
“A search of the council’s website indicates that as part of the application process both VicRoads and the CFA were asked for information on 4 April 2023.”
Casey Council growth and investment manager Kathryn Seirlis said the council issued a notice of decision to grant a permit for the use and development of a child care centre at 1 Grantchester Road in Narre Warren North.
“A notice of decision is not a planning permit, but it signals council’s intention to grant the permit and identifies the conditions to be included on it,” she said.
“If there are no appeals to VCAT then a permit will follow.
“Once a decision has been made, our office will notify any resident who has made a submission to this application.”
Ms Seirlis said assessment was made against relevant legislation and policies under the Casey Planning Scheme.
“Considerations include the development design, intensity and potential amenity impacts,” she said.
“Matters not considered include competition among individual businesses, regulations on the quantity or proximity of a specific type of business in a particular area, and the potential impact on both existing and proposed businesses.”
The 2021 Census data showed there were 356 children aged up to 4 years in Narre Warren North.
A newly constructed and operational centre is operating less than two kilometres away from proposed planning permit at 1 Capra Court in Narre Warren North, accommodating more than 130 children aged six weeks to six years.
There is also another newly constructed and operational centre at 280-283 Belgrave-Hallam Rd which accommodates more than 100 children.
Three additional childcare centres are being constructed within the area.
However, Ms Hermans said the State Government and Casey Council should consider the financial hardships the community is currently facing before approving any more childcare centres.
“As the City of Casey is still under administration, residents do not have any councillors representing the local communities’ development concerns,” she said.
“Families near the proposed childcare centre at 154 Drysdale Street, Narre Warren North, are right to be concerned about the proposal in a residential street, which they have not asked for, and do not need, according to the available numbers of children aged 0-4 years.
“Many people in Casey are struggling with the cost of living in rental and housing accommodation, and if this government consulted with the locals, would they still put another childcare centre, when the others in the area are not at capacity?”
Ms Hermans said current operational centres in Narre Warren, Narre Warren North, Endeavour Hills and Hallam have all been contacted regarding their enrolments.
“All centres confirmed they have vacancies available in 2023/2024 and are concerned that the construction of further centres will adversely affect the existing centre’s enrolments,” she said.
