The existing residential property, located at 4 Dido Street, will be converted into a childcare centre for 39 preschool children and six staff members.

The design includes two outdoor play areas, one for zero to three-year-old children and another for four to six year-old children and room for 11 car parking spaces at an estimated cost of $400,000.

The proposed hours of operation are 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Notification letters were sent to neighbouring properties, and council received 11 submissions which raised a number of concerns including; traffic and road safety, flooding, car parking and noise.

Councillor Andrew Sloan requested clarification regarding safety and traffic management in the vicinity.

“We’ve had some specific conversations with the engineer around those particular issues around the manoeuvring around the car park, we’ve also had a conversation about the increased traffic, site distances and visibility,” director of environmental services Linda Davis said.

“All of those specific concerns have been put to the engineer and the engineer was satisfied.”

Councillor Warren Steel was supportive of the application.

“I’ve had grandchildren who have had a lot of trouble getting into a facility like this and to see somebody go ahead and put in a development like this, I think is ideal,” he said.

Councillor Neil Reilly also backed the proposal.

“I think the future of a preschool somehow dictates the future of a growing community and I think that’s what is happening here, once upon a time we were a shrinking and ageing community and I think that is turning around,” he said. 

The motion was carried to approve the proposal 7 votes to 1.

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