A proposed special needs child care centre in Kennington has received a number of objections from locals, including from one individual who claimed development would “scare off” kangaroos currently grazing the area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The prospective centre will cater for 104 children up to the age of seven and will have 25 staff.
Eight residents submitted objections to the City of Greater Bendigo on the grounds of; traffic safety concerns, increased traffic and property devaluation, among others.
Residents felt the centre, estimated to cost $750,000 to construct, would cause traffic chaos in the street – The Terrace – earmarked for the development.
Two staff car parks containing 20 spaces are proposed at the new centre, but objectors suggested kerbside parking would predominate on the street, culminating in a dangerous mix of cars and pedestrians.
However, an investigation by the applicant’s independent engineer quashed concerns about the potential congestion impacts of the new centre.
The investigation said a further 190 cars would be added to existing traffic volumes with the construction of the child care centre, but these impacts were deemed acceptable.
Councillors will vote on the development proposal at a regular council meeting on Wednesday evening.
A report investigating all residents’ concerns suggests the proposed development is acceptable on a number of fronts, and satisfies the requirements of the city’s planning scheme.
The report recommends councilors approve the planning application for a new special needs centre.
Meanwhile, councillors will on Wednesday evening give their formal response to the citizens’ jury report.
The report, released in October, called on the City of Greater Bendigo to create a youth hub, investigate establishing its own solar farm and start a business incubator.
It argued for a youth hub which would integrate mental health and other youth services in a space to “break the cycle of apathy and generational unemployment”.
The report, which had 45 suggestions, called on council to investigate establishing a $9.5 million waste-to-energy pyrolysis plant.
Such a plant would be capable of processing 20 tonnes of waste organic per day, including municipal solid waste, crop stalks, wood chips, animal manure and fat, food residues and oil and sewerage sludge.
The jury also called for investigation into a tyre-recycling plant.