Childcare centre stand-off

A stand-off is developing between Waverley Council and a group of angry Bondi Junction residents over council plans to rebuild a community childcare centre on the corner of Lawson and Ebley Streets, next to Clementson Park.

Neighbours of Clementson Park and surrounding streets say they are upset at lack of consultation on a proposed development they believe is bulky and oversized, and defies the council’s own rules for buildings in a residential area.

Led by local Danielle Ecuyer, the neighbours claim there has been a lack of transparency through the planning process and that the council is not following good practice procedures.

“We were only told of the proposed development on the day the development application was lodged,” said Ms Ecuyer. “There hasn’t been appropriate communication from the council.”

Ms Ecuyer stressed that residents are not anti-childcare. “There is a childcare centre on the site already, as well as others in the vicinity, which we have lived with without any problems,” she said.

“The bulk and size of the proposed buildings is the problem. Council tells us it is two and a half stories high plus basement parking, but in reality this building will be three levels above ground. Residential zoning only allows two levels. It is a bulky, oversized concrete block.”

Frank Cahill lives next door to the proposed childcare centre, and says he is disappointed at the way residents have been overlooked.

“What we’ve had from the council has been misconceptions, distortions and sometimes even lies,” he said.

“The Council should be leading by example, but are instead violating their own rules regarding height restrictions and setbacks. No one else would be allowed to design the building like they’ve done.”

Residents are also worried about plans to include meeting room and office space, potential impact on local traffic, and lack of information on possible contamination of the site from previous use as a petrol station.

“There are remarkable similarities between this proposal and the Hugh Bamford Reserve debacle. There is a complete lack of community consultation,” Ms Ecuyer said. “Ultimately, if they are going to spend $3.9 million, they should make it work for everyone.”

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts admitted there had been distribution problems with information about the development, but denies there had been a lack of consultation.

“We have held two ‘Have a Say Day’ meetings, but the turnout was not large,” she said. “We have sent out two fact sheets, and are addressing issues as they are raised.

“Both myself and the director of recreation and community services are making ourselves available to answer all questions from any concerned party.”

Testing for contamination on the site has been carried out many times over the past eight years, and the mayor is confident the plans pose no health risk for the site.

“We are going to put children on this site, so we will of course make it as safe as possible,” Councillor Betts said.

The council has for years had plans for additional childcare facilities, but there was a shortage of funding until a federal government grant recently became available. Although conditions of the grant require building to be completed by June 2011, Cr Betts denies this has affected the usual planning process.

“There are over 700 children on waiting lists for our three council childcare centres. The Waverley area is experiencing a real baby boom,” she said.

The proposed early learning and childcare centre would increase the council’s childcare capacity by more than 20 places.

The application is now before the council. Labor councillor Ingrid Strewe says all the residents’ concerns will be considered as the application is assessed.

“I do think that residents should have been involved earlier in the process. There may have been a different plan if residents were involved,” Cr Strewe said. “There is a difference between supporting childcare and supporting this specific building.”

The council approved an application for demolition of current buildings on the site on June 8, with demolition set to begin within weeks.
– By Hamish Boland-Rudder