Zoe Moffatt
Hume council has given the next tick of approval for a community centre and a reduction in car parking at 141 Highlander Drive, Craigieburn, despite community objection.
At the meeting on August 28, council narrowly voted to grant the planning permit, with six councillors voting for and five against.
Council received seven objections and two submissions against the plan citing concerns about congestion near Oscar Romero Catholic Primary School.
“The proposed development… is going to block essential car parking close to Oscar Romero Primary School… [which] is already extremely congested at school times,” one submission said.
“Our new school community has grown exponentially since it opened late in 2018, but the parking situation has not changed and the traffic situation continues to be frustrating and dangerous.
“We have had a number of near misses with pedestrians almost being run over, we do not need any further impediments to traffic or parking near our school.”
Councillor Carly Moore said while she understands the traffic impacts, the parking and traffic provisions are appropriate.
“The traffic and car parking matters have been assessed under the applicable planning policy and they have been found to be appropriate,” she said.
“I do concede that there are many issues with our parking around schools… [but] we have assessed the traffic impacts and these have been found to be appropriate.”
Cr Karen Sherry agreed and said she understood that parking is a problem around schools, but the benefit to the community is bigger than a car park.
“It’s going to have meetings and gathering spaces for over 230 patrons,” she said. “It’s a great low cost, higher option for the community.
“The state government thought it was a great boost for the community and they funded it… to the tune of $3.24 million. So this is also a win for the community.”
Cr Chris Hollow said he thinks the community centre is a wonderful thing, but did not support the motion due to the car parking.
“At times we do have issues where we just miss it, we just miss our margins a little bit in terms of some of those public spaces that we have,” he said.
“I just think we need to go back to the drawing board again, review the parking spaces and make sure we get it right.”
Cr Jarrod Bell, Mayor Joseph Haweil, Cr Naim Kurt, Cr Jack Medcraft, Cr Moore and Cr Sherry voted for the motion. Cr Trevor Dance, Cr Hollow, Cr Jodi Jackson, Cr Sam Misho and Cr Jim Overend voted against.
