3 Memory Avenue, Crookwell would be developed into a 92-place childcare centre under the plans. Photo: Google Maps/Screenshot.
Plans to bring a $6.5 million childcare and residential development to a Southern Tablelands town have been recommended for conditional approval.
Council meeting papers state the development application (DA) was lodged with Upper Lachlan Shire Council (ULSC) earlier this year.
“The development will occur in a staged manner to enable flexibility and allow Stage 2 or 3 to proceed following the completion of Stage 1,” according to the documents.
It has an estimated cost of more than $6,500,000.
If given the green light, the first stage of the development would involve the creation of several lots off McIntosh Road (three would be residential and the fourth a childcare centre), and associated earthworks.
There would also be upgrades to Mcintosh Road’s road reserve.
This would be followed by the construction of a childcare centre with 92 places at 3 Memory Avenue, which would come with a 23-space carpark, landscaping and a noise wall.
The centre would open between 7 am and 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and have 16 educators, the environmental effect report states.
“The child care facility design scheme has undertaken a conscious effort to minimise adverse impacts on neighbouring properties in terms of privacy, acoustic and overshadowing,” the document states.
“The development proposes a single storey development on a large site, which will reduce the perceived bulk and scale of the development, as well as minimising potential overshadowing, visual privacy and acoustic impacts on adjoining properties.
The children would be spread between two rooms per age group.
It would have 24 spaces for children aged zero to two years, as well as 28 for those aged between two and three years.
The largest age group would be the three- to six-year-old group, which is proposed to have 40 places.
“The site is currently occupied by a single storey dwelling and vegetation. Located within an established residential area, the site adjoins one- to two-storey dwellings on large lots of varying ages and styles,” the environmental report states.
A noise assessment found it was expected to comply with requirements, such as through 1.8 and 2.1 metre barriers that would minimise noise from kids playing outdoors and traffic in the carpark.
“The development site and its surrounding environment are mainly influenced by low level ambient traffic noise from McIntosh Road and to a lesser extent Prell Street and Memory Avenue,” the document states.
The development’s third stage would involve the creation of 15 residential lots (located off Prell Street, Pine Street and Memory Avenue), upgrades to nearby roads and tree removal.
During the consultation process, ULSC received four objections from nearby residents, who raised multiple reasons they saw the proposal as being unsuitable for the area.
They argued it didn’t suit the area’s character (meaning a loss of “privacy and amenity” for nearby residents) and that it would bring traffic that local roads couldn’t manage.
Council documents point to an assessment that found the childcare centre would bring up to 90 vehicles per hour during the morning and afternoon peak periods.
“The applicant is required to upgrade the road and footpath network to council’s current standard in the vicinity of the development.
“This is to address concerns regarding pedestrian and motorist safety for those accessing the new subdivision and childcare centre.”
The DA is under consideration by ULSC and will be discussed at its meeting on Thursday (20 November). Meetings start at 1:30 pm, with documents and streaming information available online.
