Proposed child care centre in Camira refused
29 May 2023
Ipswich City Council has refused a proposed child care centre in Camira over concerns its proposed scale, bulk and impacts on residential amenity were not sufficiently addressed by the applicant.
The development application was lodged with council last year, proposing a 76-place child care centre on a 1,865sqm corner lot on a residential street at 1 Woodlands Avenue.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the applicant proposed to demolish the existing dwelling and build a two-storey building on the site, with 24 car parking spaces. The centre was proposed to operate between 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
“Council highlighted with the applicant that the proposed two-storey building did not comply with the outcomes sought for the Large Lot Residential Zone,” Mayor Harding said.
“Issues detailed by council planning officers included the proposed site coverage, the bulk of the building, boundary setbacks and potential amenity impacts on adjoining residential properties.”
The applicant revised the proposal’s design which included an increase to the site coverage. The revised design proposed additional staff and an increase in the number of child care places to 87.
The revised design still exceeded the scale and established built character considered to be consistent with the intent of the Large Lot Residential zoning.
Further issues were identified with the number of car parks proposed, which did not comply with the specific outcomes of the Parking Code as the applicant did not identify all full-time equivalent staff required to service the development.
Council worked with the applicant to seek further information relating to stormwater management, waste collection and traffic management.
The applicant provided a partial response to an information request indicating that they would work with council on responding to the technical matters raised, if in-principle support was given for the revised design.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chair and Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully said council had sought further information on the stormwater, waste and traffic issues raised but did not receive a further response from the applicant upon completion of public notification.
“In April, the applicant instructed council to decide the application with the information provided,” Cr Tully.
“In accordance with council’s development application framework, owing to the application receiving more than 20 properly made submissions objecting to the proposed development, the application was required to be decided by council.”
While council officers were satisfied there is community need for more long day care options in the area, the application did not satisfactorily address issues with residential amenity, bulk and scale of the built form, parking, waste management, stormwater and landscaping.
Division 2 Councillor Nicole Jonic said council officers determined the current proposal could not be appropriately conditioned to address all the matters raised.
“Council is sensitive to the ongoing pressures on families around Ipswich and the need for more child care centres to support busy parents,” Cr Jonic said.
“However, the application as proposed did not sufficiently address council’s planning framework or address issues raised in the proposal.
“Council will continue to work with all applicants to assess new development proposals responsibly and fairly.”