“The most inappropriate site you could imagine”: Morwell childcare centre denied approval over safety concerns

A bus driver's heartfelt plea has led Latrobe City council to unanimously reject a development application for a new childcare centre in Morwell.

The development sought permission to build a 90-place childcare centre at 3 Hourigan Road, Morwell.

David Minns, who worked as a bus driver for 20 years, spoke to councillors during the open session and warned them if the development went ahead an "accident will happen sooner or later".

Minns gave a vivid account of how he feared this development could potentially endanger children’s lives. 

“The traffic on Hourigan Road is excessive and this particular section is a speedway,” Minns said. “It’s the most inappropriate site for the proposed development that you can imagine.”

Councillor Sharon Gibson echoed Minn’s concerns about safety, saying she wouldn't "put my name to something that could potentially kill a child”.

The proposed centre had enough room for 17 parking spaces, which Gibson said would force parents to park on Hourigan Road.

Councillor Steph Morgan moved the motion to issue a notice of refusal to permit the use and development of land for the childcare centre.  

Morgan said community members had raised concerns with her about the impact of the development on their safety, but also raised concerns about the style of the building.

Morgan said the building “does not reinforce the spacious regional suburban character of the existing neighbourhood and is overly prominent in the streetscape”.

Morgan's motion cited "minimal to no side setbacks" and inappropriate development scale, with neighbouring properties facing 3.6-metre high walls replacing suburban fences.