PlanningAlerts

18 Comments

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1. I do not think this application should be approved for the following reasons:

   1 This DA site is directly next door to a current early childhood centre (Bay Road Kindy) which has been in operation for 20+ years.
   2 Traffic congestion around the intersection of Avenel Road and Gymea Bay Road during the morning and afternoon school drop off and pick up times is already quite bad
   3 Current traffic congestion is dangerous enough already for children from Gymea Bay Public School as well as Bay Road Kindy and other kids walking and riding to St Catherine's Gymea.
   4 Parking on Gymea Bay Road, in front of Bay Road Kindy and the new DA site is very tight. The footpath is directly adjacent to the roadway in this area which can be dangerous for pedestrians.
   5 It is dangerous getting kindy age kids in and out of cars on Gymea Bay Road in morning and afternoon peak.
   6 Parking on the eastern side of Gymea Bay Road and crossing over to Bay Road Kindy, The new DA site or Gymea Bay Public School is dangerous at the current traffic and parked car volumes.
   7 Extra parking for a childcare centre for an extra 45 children per day will add that many vehicle movements each morning and afternoon during the already busy peak periods.
   8 Some parents for the current school and childcare centre already park in the 90 degree parking against the playing fields in Avenel Road and walk across the crossing on Avenel Road.
   9 - The crossing on Avenel is already dangerous in my opinion due to people trying to scoot around between traffic as the turn from the southbound lane of Gymea Bay Road. They rush around and then have to stop suddenly for someone crossing.
   10 - Assuming the new centre will have on site parking and at least 1 driveway this is more traffic crossing the footpaths causing danger to pedestrians who are mainly children going to school.
   11 - Traffic is often banked back with traffic attempting to turn from Avenel Road south onto Gymea Bay Road. Same with cars attempting the turn from southbound lane of Gymea Bay Road into west bound Avenel Road. I have seen many people take risks in order to just get around these corners.

2. This development causes some serious safety concerns especially the increased traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours, drop off and pick up times. This will result in safety issues, particularly in relation to pedestrians and school children walking to and from school and who may need to use the crossing on Avenal Road.

   The added noise due to larger groups of children is also of concern.

   There are already several childcare center's located within that immediate area. There is no need for another to be located next door to an existing center.
   

3. The traffic is bad enough during peak school time. I live at 202 and currently have to travel towards the bay before heading towards Gymea as I cannot get out of my driveway. When returning home down avenel I currently turn left and turn round at the round about for fear of having an accident (have experienced that already).
   There is a already operational day care centres either side of the school along Gymea bay road
   People already illegally park in avenel road (over the foot path at 90 degree angle).
   The high volume of children going to and from school with the added traffic entering driveways is a concern

4. I do not think this application should be approved, as the traffic on Gymea Bay road is already extremely heavy during school drop off and pick up time. Creating a new centre in the same vicinity will cause major havoc. I have personally seen several accidents right outside this area already just in the last year. I do not want to add more pressure to this area. There is no need for another Child care service as there are already many in the area. (Including right next door). The kindy next door has been there for over 20 years and has been respectful of the neighbours by controlling noise. Adding more noise will restrict the children's opportunity to play outside.

5. I cannot believe that this application has even been submitted and now considered.

   The traffic and pressure on the area, that a new daycare right next door to an existing one, will cause havoc and make peoples life in the community stressful. As well as being dangerous for the foot traffic for loads of young kids walking to school.

   Not only that, Bay Road Kindy has been part of the community for over 20yrs! There are already several childcare center's located within that immediate area. There is no need for another to be located next door to an existing center.

6. I do not think this application should be approved.

   The development of a child care centre directly next to an existing child care centre would create severe safety issues. Given that Gymea Bay Public School is 100 metres away, traffic around the area is already congested especially at school pick-up/drop-off times. The development of another child care centre at this spot would generate even more traffic congestion and increase the likelihood of a serious accident.

   Bay Road Kindy has offered a wonderful community service for many years now and works closely with neighbours to ensure an harmonious environment for residents as well as students. To put another child care centre right next door would create noise issues for the residents and would no doubt end up in restrictions for outdoor play for our children.

   There is just no need to another child care centre this close to Bay Road Kindy and Gymea Public School. There are several options for child care in this area already.

   Thank you.

7. I dont support the approval of this application at the proposed location.

   I do support the spirit of competition and opportunity, but I think that council needs to carefully consider the logistic needs involved in this application.

   1. Traffic and parking in this area is a problem. Gymea bay road is extremely busy and i would argue - already at a safety threshold for the volume of traffic that is focussed in this area
   2. The difficulty in managing noise in a way that is "to be realistically expected" for an early childhood centre yet not disruptive to a neighbouring facility offering the same services - or to residents in the neighbouring properties.

   As a general comment - I also consider it unnecassary to have an early childhood centre virtually right next door to another. The awkwardness of the arrangement could easily have negative effects on the daily working experience of staff at both Bay Road Kindy and the proposed service.

   I would propose that it's specifically the proximity of the application to an existing well established service provider that makes the proposed application at this site to be unsuitable.
   

8. Firstly I can not understand the need for another day care center when there are already 2 in such close proximity and one of those right next door.

   Most importantly the traffic congestion in the area in the school drop off times is absolutly at capacity at it is right now. It is so dangerous and I often find that I have to do a risky pull out in front of traffic just to get up or down gymea bay road. How many more accidents need to happen for council to realise this.

   I have only found out about this application by word of mouth and am very dissapointed that council havnt made the effort to inform the residents of gymea bay of the DA considering that gymea bay road is the main passage in and out of our homes and getting through that area during school drop off/pick up times already adds 15minutes or so to your trip.

   Has the public school also been informed of the plans to increase traffic congestion? Im sure that every single person who has children at the school would also oppose the go ahead for more traffic.

   I hope the council see sense and not allow this to go ahead I cant see any benifit to it what so ever.

9. In accord with those who have left comments above, I do not support this development.

   Having additional child care facilities in the neighbourhood would surely be welcome, but the choice of location is more than questionable.

10. What a rediculous proposal! There is already a fully operational childcare facility right next door! Why is this even being considered??? My daughter has been attending Bay Road Kindy for the past 3 years, and I strongly believe that this new facility next door, if approved would be a huge mistake. Here are my reasons: Firstly, At drop off and pick up times, Gymea Bay rd is already a nightmare due the the school just up the road and normal peak time congestion. It is sometimes difficult to access the Bay road kindy's driveway at these times, causing added obstruction to the flow of traffic and forcing families to park on and cross the busy road with their small children. To add another childcare centre to this equation with extra cars and people stopping, parking and crossing this already busy road would potentially very dangerous to the community. Secondly, this is a residential area. Bay Rd Kindy is very conscious of the noise generated by the children out side playing and manages to keep the level of noise to a minimum for the sake of surrounding neighbours. To add another childcare centre right next door with and extra 45 children playing outside could be very disrupting to the surrounding neighbours and their right to peace and quiet. Thirdly, why place this type of competition right next door to and existing child care facility?? It threatens the livelihood and future of the existing business that has many years of experience in providing excellent child care for our community. I understand we need more child care centres, but not next to each other. This proposal should have been thrown out from the start as it makes no sense at all.
    

11. I support the very real need for child care centres in Gymea Bay but the position of this one proposed is not good because of the already heavy traffic congestion. With more and more parents driving their children to school these days (maybe due to concerns for their safety) I have found as a resident of the Bay for more than 30 years that it has been getting progressively harder to get out of my own street in the mornings, and a lot more hazardous around the area of the school and Avenel Road.
    Even should the Council not approve this new proposal, I feel that they need to look at the existing problems with traffic surrounding the school and Avenel Road. I have seen many near misses and a lot of frustration resulting in some people taking stupid risks to not only get a parking space outside the school, but also to get their "spot" in the line of traffic. One young driver the other day was obviously so enraged at having a hard time getting through the traffic congestion and then having to be stopped by the school crossing man with his flag, that he put his foot to the floor ignoring the 40kmh law and gunned it after the crossing, which could very easily have all gone wrong had he lost control of his car on the bend of Gymea Bay Road near the playing fields. I don't know what the solution can be, as a roundabout on the corner of Coonong and Gymea Bay Roads has already been in operation for some time. To approve the development proposal of another facility that will add to this traffic congestion is madness, and a serious accident is surely going to be the end result.

12. Given the local traffic, Public School Traffic and the current Kindergarten traffic, it is already congested enough in this particular area at peak times. It is at times quite difficult to navigate through this area to get my child safely to and from the current Kindergarten.

    To place another child care facility directly next door would definitely increase traffic at the peak drop of and pick up times creating an extremely unsafe situation for all families concerned.

13. I strongly recommend the application be DECLINED. I agree with all comments lodged to date. The area around Gymea Bay P/S is already congested with crazy traffic each school morning and afternoon. Traffic is normally banked back through both ends of Coonong Rd around the school, Avenel Ave, Gymea Bay Rd, June Place and 1st Ave during school drop off and pick up times. This would most likely be the busiest time for drop off / pick up at the proposed new Kindy site which would cause increased traffic to an already frustrating situation. I also agree that drivers are extremely frustrated with the already crazy traffic and crossing the road at the crossings particularly the crossing at Avenel Ave which is unpatrolled is already dangerous with most drivers not taking note of the crossing and not even stopping whilst children are trying to cross! I know of at least 3 accidents that have occurred just outside of the proposed new Kindy site, one only just recently around 9.20am on the corner of Gymea Bay Rd and Avenel Ave between a truck and a car - adding further delays. I have actually been involved in an accident whilst waiting to turn into Bay Road Kindy when a driver did not take notice of me stopped with brakes on and blinker flashing. So I already know accidents do and will continue to happen in the future. There are already 4 pre-school / kindys within the immediate area and I have also heard rumour of another proposal for a Kindy to be approved in Coonong Ave Gymea Bay. This also would be crazy ! Parking is also an issue at school drop off/ pick up times already. Parents park along Gymea Bay Rd, Avenel Ave, June Pl, both ends of Coonong Rd and 1st Ave with limited spaces already. To add a centre in such a busy traffic area is asking for trouble and a serious accident which could potentially kill a child sadly this may happen sooner than we think should the new proposal go ahead. An additional objection is noise control. I know that Bay Road Kindy are mindful of its neighbours and restrict outside play for the children already. To add an extra 45 children right next door to residents would restrict outdoor play again. Bay Road Kindy has worked hard and respects its neighbours - will the new Kindy also? Why should an already established Kindy of 20years + be restricted on outdoor play time hours? I say NO to the proposal and suggest the applicant look elsewhere in a more appropriate area for a child care centre. Although Childcare is needed it doesn't mean you can just build one anyone ! As a mother of 3 children who attend both Bay Road Kindy and also Gymea Bay P/S I will not have my childs safety jeopardised... I ask you - would you jeopardised your Childs safety? I think not !

14. I think the idea to build a day care centre at this location is absolutely ridiculous and STUPID.
    I agree totally with all the previous comments re safety of drivers, school children, bike riders, pedestrians and kindergarten aged kids.
    I would like to add that the amount of traffic has increased dramatically over the last two years with an influx of residents to the area. We returned a year ago after living in Brisbane for two years and the increase in traffic along Gymea Bay Rd has been very noticeable, noisy, fast and inconsiderate (people have parked across our driveway - as parking is such an issue) making it difficult for us to drive out.
    My family live on Avenel Rd and we are lucky to be able to walk our children to Bay Rd kindy and school (next year) however I still feel exposed to the traffic just walking on the footpath.
    I think it's very rude and inconsiderate to even consider building a day care centre alongside an already existing and reputable one at that.
    Please take your day care centre and build it in a much quieter, low traffic zone area. It will be much better for all involved.

15. Anybody that uses Gymea Bay Road and the roads that feed onto it during peak times would know that this development would cause major overloads to traffic and safety. Sutherland Shire Council with alls its wisdom should be directing developers to less congested areas with their proposal. It is unfortunate that it is left to Bay Rd Kindy, local residence and commuters to contest the obvious flaws with this DA. Take note Council, safety should be the highest of all your priorites when approving a change not to mention a local impact study. Shame on you for jeopardising the safety of the local community.

16. please consider the safety of the children and families that live in this area and are frequently using this area at the busy times of day....looking at the average drop off time at a day care centre, it is within the half hour before and after the school start time and same goes for the afternoon . with this being said , now think of the added traffic that will be added to an already very very busy section of gymea bay road where the school is , at this time of day , if you approve a 40 plus place centre that will also be struggling to find parking and use this road at the busy times. when you think about it , there is no way the centre is going to provide enough parking for families at the busy times...leaving families to park on the street, possibly on the opposite side and cross the busy road, also pedestrian accses across the busy driveway that would be in use by the centre ultimately endangering childrens lives due to the fact that unfortunately many drivers are in a hurry at these busy times and caution can go by the wayside. please please dont make it any more chaotic on this stretch of road at busy times...it cant take it.

17. I don't think this development proposal should be approved. The main concern we have is the safety issue derived from the overloaded traffic for the parents (as the driver), our kids as well as the pedestrian. There has already been so many cars in the morning drop-off time and the afternoon pick-up time, which has already created a safety issue and if this proposal was approved, it can only make the situation look even worse.

    People who submitted this proposal would say the new kindy will provide local kids with more potions and choices. However, they only say this in order to get their proposal approved. They don't really think about or even care about the current situation.

    I trust the council will listen to what we say as this is simply pure truth.

18. As a parent of two, a driver and a resident in the area, I can absolutely vouch for all the comments above. The corner of Avenel and Gymea Bay Road is a nightmare most mornings and evenings, during peak hours and during soccer and netball practise times, which will be the times most parents will be using the new propsosed Kindy. I have seen many accidents on this corner and a lot more near accidents with people taking risks either turning onto avenel or right onto Gymea Bay road. It is a dangerous corner and therefore ludicrous to be putting even more pressure on that corner with another Kindy. Particuarly so close to the corner and right next door to an exsisting Kindy. A lot is already happening in this area (traffic wise) for drivers, pedestrians and young children to watch for. The added safety concerns that another Kindy would put on it isn't worth it. People's/children's lives are so precious.
    This application should NOT be approved.

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