A new childcare centre is coming to Mernda following a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT, decision overturning City of Whittlesea council’s refusal to grant a permit.
The childcare will be located at 22 Schotters Road, Mernda opposite the Mernda train station and will operate Monday to Friday, 6.30am to 6.30pm, for up to 104 children.
Council opposed the development stating there was not a demonstrated need for the facility and that combined with existing and proposed childcare centres, it would result in an oversupply of childcare spaces.
A 38-place childcare centre exists to the south of the site at 2 Schotters Road, Mernda.
Council also submitted the specific site context and needs of the surrounding catchment did not reasonably demonstrate the development would result in community benefit.
Tribunal member Mary-Anne Taranto heard the submissions and decided the development would not ‘prejudice the orderly use and development of land’.
“The site has very favourable locational attributes … I can envisage many synergies and locational benefits arising from the site’s locational attributes,” she said.
City of Whittlesea submitted supply and demand figures forecasting an oversupply between a low of 175 places to a high of 212 places in 2034 and 2023 respectively.
In broader catchments, an oversupply of between 406 places in 2024 and 482 places in 2032 was forecast.
However, JIBA Pty Ltd, the company developing the childcare, stated the centre would contribute to consumer choice in a growth area where there is likely to be market demand.
Ms Taranto agreed with the childcare company’s position and questioned council’s data.
“While an overriding demonstrated need or proposal may in some circumstances outweigh its adverse features, lack of need will rarely if ever be the reason to reject such a proposal,” she said.
“Council’s forecasts use data from 2015 to extrapolate likely future demand.
“There are many variables that will influence the need for childcare services, and these may not be static, such as workforce participation rates and travel patterns.
“Quite aside from being outdated, it is also unclear whether this data captures latent unmet demand that reflects actual consumer preferences and choice within the local and broader community such as demand for casual or part-time care arrangements.
“The closure of existing centres over time and uncertain provision of childcare centres that have planning permission but are yet to be built are other considerations that come to mind, which are not factored into modelling relied upon by council.
“I also envisage that the more centralised location of the proposed centre relative to other existing centres further afield may be a more convenient option for people working in the emerging town centre or for commuters who may not necessarily live within the more localised catchments assessed by the council.
“I conclude that in the circumstances, lack of demonstrated need for a childcare centre on this site does not warrant refusal of a permit.”
The permit was granted to JIBA with conditions including alteration of waste collection hours, acoustic fencing requirements and landscaping restrictions.
