Traffic assessment gives child centre green light

THE Shire of Yarra Ranges last week approved a $1 million child care centre development in Healesville after the applicant agreed to a number of parking provisions.
The council had deferred the application on Tuesday, 8 November so a traffic assessment could be carried out.
The ABC group, one of Australia’s largest owners of private childcare businesses, has applied to develop a centre on the corner of Maroondah Highway and Steel Street.
The council received 12 objections to the centre, including concerns that the development would affect other child care centres, that it would affect the amenity of the area and that parking and traffic management would be a problem.
Agreeing that traffic management would be a problem, the former Ryrie Ward councillor Di Moore called for a further traffic assessment to be undertaken.
Following an assessment by shire staff and discussions with the developer it was agreed that a 23-lot car park with eight wider spots should be allocated as 10-minute drop off spaces, eliminating concerns over traffic congestion.
Shire director of planning, building and health, James Lamour-Reid, said there had also been a turnaround area allocated near the end of the parking lot. The council last week approved the application, satisfied that traffic concerns had been assessed.