By Lauren Henry

A new childcare centre will be built in Horsham South, set to cater for the needs of families living south of the Wimmera River. 

Horsham Rural City Council approved a planning application at its December meeting for the use of land at 75-77 River Road, Horsham for a childcare centre, and associated business signs.

The 1978-square-metre vacant block of land, next to Horsham Church of Christ, will accommodate a single-storey centre, caring for up to 102 children.

Applicants Monty and Jyoti Pty Ltd submitted plans, which include a 613-square-metre building, an external play area of 720-square-metres, and 23 parking spaces.

Set to be built in a general residential zone, there were three objectors to the centre, relating to noise, increased traffic and car parking, odour from rubbish, and impact on market value of surrounding properties.

Council staff have addressed the concerns, liaising with objectors and then the developer to make changes to the landscape plan and to increase the height and location of the fencing.

There was also further assessments on traffic and acoustics.

Council officers’ recommendation was to grant the planning permit, saying the childcare centre ‘supports the identified demands for Horsham’s growth and is consistent with the purpose of the General Residential Zone to allow educational, recreational, religious, community and a limited range of other non-residential uses to serve local community needs in appropriate locations’.

The officer’s report said: ‘The site is well located with access to River Road and will support a growing population in Horsham South of over 5000 people and a developing commercial and industrial precinct and should be approved subject to conditions including design, traffic, noise and hours of operation’.

At the December 16 council meeting, Crs Angela Munn and Brian Klowss excused themselves from the discussion and vote due to conflicts of interest.

Councillors voted to modify the plans to reconfigure layout to locate the play areas to the north-east of the site, and the building formed to the north-west corner of the site to provide a visual and acoustic buffer to residential dwellings.

Cr Rebecca Sluggett moved the amendment to also include changes to the footpaths, with swept paths for carparking to ensure all vehicles can exit in a forward direction.

“As a mum, I was excited to see that this applicant realised our huge need for another childcare facility within our municipality,” she said.

“I was also pleased that it’s located south of the river, making it accessible to a larger number of families living on that side of the river.”

However, Cr Sluggett said she was concerned about the neighbouring property owners’ objections.

“It leaves no doubt that this development is causing deep concern and will change the way they live in their homes,” she said.

“While their concerns are extremely valid and have been heavily considered, this development meets all requirements of our current planning schemes for residential areas, which allows for educational and community facilities.

“I also note the applicant thus far has made some provisions through mediation where possible to lessen the impacts to other properties. 

“I feel the amendment will assist to further lessen the impact, so due to compliance to the planning schemes, the net benefit and lack of legal reasons to deny the planning permit, I feel I must support this motion with the proposal.”

Cr Cameron McDonald said the development proposal was putting the council between ‘a rock and a hard place’ but the council must consider the application from a planning perspective.

“Yes, we do want development, but at the same time we’re very sensitive to genuine concerns over the development,” he said

“My feeling is if you build a childcare centre, that is the absolute economic driver for future developments around town, so we cannot not have it.”