Caboolture childcare centre approved

A new childcare centre catering for 117 children will be built at Caboolture – less than a kilometre away from two existing centres.

Moreton Bay Regional Council approved the application to build the centre across two blocks which are currently occupied by houses on Smiths Rd opposite Tullawong State School,.

An officers’ report presented to Council says a childcare centre is a consistent use in the Suburban neighbourhood precinct.

Three of the objections were from residents concerned about noise and nearby centres not being at full occupancy.

One objection was from Kidscape Early Learning Centre.

“We are a childcare centre very close to this proposed childcare centre and we are not at 100 percent occupancy,” it said.

“We believe this will be detrimental to our business as well as many others in the vicinity of the proposed address who also are not at 100 percent occupancy.”

Planning scheme concerns

Councillor Adam Hain, whose Division covers the property, told the Council meeting he shared the concerns of those who objected to the plan and questioned the need for a centre when there were two nearby – one 90m away and the other 950m away.

“Why they need another one five doors down, I don’t know,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to parents there and no-one seems to be screaming out for another one.”

Cr Hain blamed the current planning scheme for the officers’ recommendation to approve the project, saying there were no grounds for refusal.

“I won’t be supporting it and I can’t wait until we fix our planning scheme so this can’t happen any more.”

Cr Brooke Savige (Div 1) agreed the scheme needed to change.

“We should be identifying key sites in the future to prevent them popping up literally on every second street corner,” Cr Savige said.

“We are constantly seeing these applications coming up in the middle of residential areas and I note in the report the applicant was advised during a pre-lodgement meeting that the land use for a childcare centre is consistent, provided it does not negatively impact adjoining residents or the streetscape.

“I struggle to see how this would not negatively impact those immediately adjacent to there and I will not be supporting the recommendation.”

Cr Mick Gillam (Div 8) said he would rather see traffic accumulating on a main road than in suburban streets, as is the case with a centre five doors away from the new one.

School zone worries

But Cr Hain said his concern was not about traffic in suburban streets, rather that it would increase congestion around a school zone.

“There’s three schools here that converge on the same set of lights – it’s purely the school zone that I have trouble with.”

The application, made by Flux Property Group on behalf of owners Donna Draper and Hazel Young, was approved nine votes to four.

Councillors Hain, Savige, Cath Tonks and Karl Winchester voted against the proposal.