By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A RECOGNISED dangerous road in Berwick will soon to be frequented by young kids, following VCAT approval for a childcare centre.
A permit to allow the construction of the childcare centre at 56A Harkaway Road in Berwick was upheld by the state planning authority, despite a large number of objections lodged with Casey Council in April last year.
The centre, proposed to accommodate 73 children and 15 staff, attracted significant safety concerns acknowledged by VCAT during the hearings.
Two objectors, Deborrah and Mark Francis, pointed out the dangerous history of the road including fatal and serious collisions which attracted federal safety improvement funding under the Australian Government’s ‘Black Spot’ program in 2013.
A collection of near misses were also presented to the court in addition to accompanying resident concerns including noise, traffic congestion and impact on nearby property value.
However, these factors failed to stop the childcare centre from going ahead, with VCAT issuing a permit to the developers during the final hearing on Wednesday 2 March.
A traffic engineer acknowledged Harkaway Road was a main road feeding into the Berwick township and freeway network, but suggested the 2013 federally-funded roundabout had improved the area’s safety evidenced by a reduction in the number and severity of crashes at the site.
Resident Dale Allen last year spoke to the Gazette about her concerns with increased traffic on Harkaway Road.
“No amount of restrictions can control the amount of cars which will pool into this area should the childcare centre be approved,” she said.
“The amount of time and financial outlay put into constructing the roundabout, sanctioned by previous Casey councillors, could now be compromised to satisfy the request of one commercial venture.”
Casey councillors voted down the proposal last year despite support for the plan by their planning department, including traffic engineers.
The proposal attracted 142 submissions before it was heard at Casey Council’s town planning meeting.
The childcare centre will include 20 car spaces and three drop-off bays.
