Following community consultation, Goulburn Council will present its proposed childcare centre planning changes to the NSW Government. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Childcare centres are expected to be banned from parts of the Southern Tablelands as Goulburn Mulwaree Council (GMC) pushes ahead with its plans to shake up where the facilities can be located.
Earlier this year, councillors launched a review into how its planning guidelines treated childcare centres.
It came after several development applications (DAs) drew criticism for their location and scale during their assessment, despite meeting criteria.
At the time, councillors were told any changes wouldn’t affect already lodged or approved DAs.
Michael Prevedello urged his fellow councillors to back the proposed changes to planning rules.
He said the proposed changes would be needed to stop moves to develop projects in “blatantly preposterous locations”.
“I’m pleased with this motion, as I believe it is the start of a process which acknowledges common sense,” Cr Prevedello said.
“If this motion passes tonight, I envisage that the consideration of amenity and character considerations will be vital tools which our planners will be able to discuss with proponents.”
Under the proposed changes, the character and amenity of an area will be added as considerations for developments planned for R1 General Residential and R2 Low Density Residential Zones.
The plan would also introduce a new provision banning ”centre-based childcare facilities” in RU1 Primary Production, RU2 Rural Landscape, RU6 Transition, and C3 Environmental Management Zones.
Cr Jason Shepherd said any changes would need to reflect where people were living.
“I think, speaking as someone who’s used childcare centres in the past, you don’t want to be driving … Having something nearby is good, but also, it has to fit into the newer residential areas.”
After locking in the review, GMC ran an online survey.
“Comments include objections to specific developments, lack of clarity in relation to actual applicant/developer with some development applications (DAs), support generally for the changes, objections to non-local childcare providers, identification of shortages in childcare provision and issues surrounding the availability of local staff,” council papers said of the feedback received.
“Of the more specific comments to the exhibited documents are comments on design considerations generally, including existing examples of poor fit in the streetscape, concerns regarding traffic, [and] street design.”
During a meeting, a staff member told councillors they weren’t aware of any DAs currently under consideration that would be affected by the proposed changes.
They also acknowledged competing factors in assessing developments.
“I guess part of this is ensuring that we find a balance,” they said.
“We know that childcare services are needed in town, and at the moment, there is a shortfall of childcare spaces. But we need to ensure that they’re put in the right places with the right considerations, site context, et cetera.”
The vote means the council will submit its proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).
According to council papers, the DPHI has also separately flagged changes to state-level regulations for centre-based childcare facilities. These changes include a new framework for assessing their impacts on traffic and noise, and changes to how opening hours are considered.
“The proposed amendments will place greater emphasis on outcomes rather than prescriptive rules,” the papers state of the department’s proposal.
