A NEW childcare centre overlooking Ewing Park would have unacceptable impacts on neighbours and sportspeople, a council report says.
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It recommendes councillors knock back plans for a 110-children childcare centre at next Wednesday's City of Greater Bendigo council meeting.
Human Habitats want to turn the former disability services building in Harcourt Street into a childcare centre.
They hope the council will waive all car parking requirements. No car parking exists on site.
There are already 65 unmarked spaces near Ewing Park available at most times, according to a traffic impact assessment included in Human Habitat's application.
The applicants expected parents to use 11 to 13 at peak times, while staff would use 14.
Council officers said the centre's plan was not an appropriate use for public parking spaces intended for people using Ewing Park, especially when peak numbers of parents arrived to pick up children during sports training and games.
A traffic engineer found Harcourt Street did not have the capacity for the traffic generated by the centre, the report noted, and there were concerns the informal nature of parking could create unsafe situations for parents and children using the centre.
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The council received three objections from the community, which included concerns about parking for sports groups using Ewing Park, and rising numbers of cars in Harcourt Street, Havlin Street West and Williamson Street.
Council officers noted plans to develop Ewing Park would eventually see the partial closure of Havlin Street West, which would "significantly impact traffic flow to and from the site and cause further traffic congestion".
The first stage of development is scheduled to start in October, assuming the project secures funding in this year's council budget.
A new playing surface, irrigation, an athletics track, fencing, a walking track and lighting would be installed.
The council planned to install a "wheeled sports hub" during later stages, including a skate and scooter park, a regional cycling trail hub, a play space and a learn to ride hub.
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