Fears that children could get hit by cars when crossing a busy road in Epping have been raised in response to a plan for an 80-place childcare centre.
Epping local residents and Parramatta Councillors have banded together to voice their concerns over a Development Application (DA) for a new childcare centre to be built at 52 Essex Street, Epping.
Due to the number of submissions received opposing the DA, the plans were put before the City of Parramatta Local Planning Panel (LPP) for decision.
If approved, the childcare centre would operate Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6.30pm, and be run by a minimum of 14 staff members at any one time
A total of 22 on-site parking spaces are proposed including one disabled space, with the site to be accessed by car via a 6.2 metre wide two-way driveway, directly off Essex Street.
Parramatta Councillor Lorraine Wearne expressed her concern over the proposed development’s impact on traffic and parking.
“This is one of the busiest streets in Epping… morning and night, certainly in the peak hours, this is bumper to bumper,” she said.
“There’s nothing [in the application] that addresses the issue of the back-up of traffic and the inability of parents to try to get to the centre.”
Cr Wearne said parents won’t want to use the basement car park when dropping their children off, stating instead that they’re more likely to park across the road to avoid doing a three-point turn.
“Anyone who knows the area could not possibly consider an 80 child childcare centre on this road without heavy conditioning to provide for the access,” she said.
“We all see it, mothers running across roads with children. It really bothers me that a child will be killed here.”
However, the applicant’s traffic engineer Aaron Tomlins disputed claims people are likely to park on the street to go to the centre.
“The subject development complies with the DCP parking provisions of one space per four children,” he said.
“The design of the basement is in compliance with the Australian standards, so there shouldn’t be any need for on-street parking because we provide sufficient parking on-site.”
Essex Street resident Ben Cardillo said the claim that 80 children and their parents, as well as 14 staff, can arrive and leave the childcare centre each day without causing any disruption to local traffic and parking is “simply not believable”.
“With so many cars arriving and leaving the centre each day, what are the chances that an impatient driver turning right into Essex Street from the centre’s driveway will be hit by a two-and-a-half tonne truck?” he said.
Although Council Officers have recommend the proposed childcare centre be given approval, the LPP could still reject the application.
The panel is likely to reveal its decision in the next few days.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.