Greens Councillors opposed Yarra Council’s decision this week to site the 92-place Lourdes childcare development in St Heliers St Abbotsford. This decision ignored community concerns about chronic traffic congestion and safety issues, and means the end of a vision for a car-free pedestrian zone at the entry to the Abbotsford Convent and Collingwood Children’s Farm.
A Greens motion proposed relocating the childcare centre and seeking state government assistance to do so. We are committed to building a 92-place childcare centre, preferably in the Abbotsford-Collingwood area, however the Lourdes site is not an appropriate location.
Despite the fact that Council has never formally investigated alternative sites, the ALP, Socialist and Independent councillors combined to defeat the Greens motion, which effectively forces the centre into the Convent precinct despite strong misgivings and opposition from stakeholders and community members.
The Abbotsford Convent Foundation had earlier addressed Council requesting the relocation of the childcare centre.
In balancing the needs of the community with the benefits of proceeding immediately with a childcare centre in a problematic location, the Greens judged that we have the capacity to meet childcare needs in the municipality to enable a short delay in finding a better location. Meanwhile we could not put further pressure on the unsafe situation in St Heliers Street and place one million annual visitors to this precinct at risk.
St Heliers Street is the entry road to a thriving, dynamic arts and culture precinct in a beautiful setting, but there are serious traffic flow issues, which must be resolved. Peak times see some risky and sometimes illegal driving manoeuvres around the current Early Learning Centre. Add to this parents driving to drop children at the Steiner School, employees driving to park in the car park, teenagers walking to school, parents crossing roads with pre-schoolers in a constrained area and no way through. It’s an explosive mix.
Placing a large childcare centre in this mix and adding up to 200 extra car trips per day in peak times is foolish.
It also prevents Council from ever realising the potential for St Heliers Street to become a pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare – safe, welcoming and landscaped for all to enjoy.
This is not a good site for a new childcare centre. It’s next to a car park and an existing child care centre and is situated on the edge of its catchment area, increasing the pressure on parents to drive. Child drop-offs will be a nightmare for parents and other precinct users.
The Greens believe that this decision will create divisions in the community and resentment against Council.
A more sensible approach would be to create a beautiful car-free shared zone in St Heliers Street and a relocated childcare centre situated in a community which appreciates its location. This would be a win-win outcome.
