Childcare centre rejected after residents raise list of concerns - Parra ...

Plans for a new two-storey childcare centre in Rydalmere have been axed, after numerous residents voiced their frustrations over the project.

The Development Application (DA) for a 66-place childcare centre, proposed for 68 Kirby Street, has officially been knocked back by the Parramatta Local Planning Panel.

It comes after the divisive development received 28 submissions objecting to the plans, with many residents slamming the centre for the strong impact it would have on the surrounding neighbourhood.

Speaking at the panel, local resident Heidi Cleary raised issues of safety when it comes to children and their carers crossing the road.

“The concern is that someone is going to be injured, or at worst killed, because of the speed that we see people coming around that area and there’s no safe crossing to get across Kirby Street to the muster point in Upjohn Park,” she said.

Another resident, Anna Pan, said the noise the childcare centre would create would have had a huge impact on her family.

“One of the biggest impacts that I can see for us personally is noise,” she said.

“One of our children has been diagnosed with autism and she also suffers from chronic migraines and because the outdoor play area that faces… our property, it will be directly overlooking our bedroom, our study, our lounge room and then, as the property goes along, our veranda.”

The proposed development had planned to provide 16 parking spaces in a basement car park for visitors, operating from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The childcare centre would have also featured both indoor and outdoor play areas for children aged up to five years of age.

Ultimately, the panel said the centre had failed to comply with a string of provisions, including traffic, parking, noise and scale.

However, the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) for the project said the site would be suitable for a childcare centre.

“The design and external appearance of the proposal is appropriate to the character of the locality,” it said.

“The proposal does not impact on views, privacy or solar access of neighbouring properties and will have no significant impact on the topography, micro-climate, air or water quality of the locality.

“[The centre] is unlikely to result in adverse impacts on the amenity of the locality and accordingly, the proposal is considered to be in the public interest.”