117 Merrivale Lane, Turramurra, NSW

Please do not approve this application. This is a quiet residential street and does not need a childcare centre. There are multiple childcare centres within 5 minutes of this location and there is definitely no need for another.
The traffic management issues will be significant as the street barely fits two cars passing each other. Additional traffic will create traffic safety issues. The proposed location is on the crest of a hill with limited visibility causing high potential for traffic collisions and the safety of pedestrians will also be at risk.

My biggest concern is that the applicant has no genuine desire to operate a childcare centre and is applying for underground parking which after approval they will then re-apply for a multiple unit / residential development. This will be disastrous for Merrivale Lane and its residents.

As a current resident of Merrivale Lane I know the limitation of traffic moving through the street all too well, I cannot imagine how they could even consider a childcare centre in this little lane with barely 2 way traffic and no footpaths!! I think there has to be too many safety issues with regards to this proposal. As mentioned before there are already too many childcare centres in the immediate area. Working in the real estate industry the best thing that can happen to those properties is they are sold on for someone to bring them back to their former glory. This is a quiet residential street with limited access. Even when we were renovating we were told off on a number of occasions for too many vehicles "blocking" access to the end of the street in case emergency vehicles needed to get through! I have no idea how an emergency vehicle would gain access if they needed to with a childcare centre catering for 150 children is erected in the street!! Unacceptable proposal and cannot understand why it would even be considered.

Currently Merrivale lane averages about 50 Cars going back and forth on a normal day. It’s an extremely narrow street. Under this Mega development we can expect:
• Max 150 SUV’s / Cars every morning and every Evening driven by Parents dropping and collecting their kids. i.e. 600 individual trips
• Max of about 25 Cars driven by the Staff x two shifts. i.e. 100 trips

That puts 700 trips per day into this narrow and already compromised lane with no sidewalks and a steep nature strip at peak hours. This equates to a 18.5 times (1850%) increase in traffic.

A majority of the Residents are elderly or, young families. We already reverse blindly downhill, or, have to come uphill partially blind onto oncoming traffic from our homes.

With 700 cars and SUV’s driven by Parent’s in duress we are creating a life threatening situation. If we throw in Rain, Dusk and Dawn for good measure under the current circumstances – it’s playing Russian roulette.

Due to a lack of a nature reserve and footpath the young and the old walk, cycle and play in the midst of the street. Since it’s a quiet and friendly neighbourhood we are all patient with the Elderly an the young. By having 700 Car / SUV's plying on this 200 meters narrow stretch driven by Parent’s who are always short on time we are going to have some serious accidents.

Ducks, Rabbits, Lizards, Echidnas, Bandicoots simply waddle across the Road at their own pace all day. With hundreds of large SUV's plying through his narrow lane – these animals do not stand a chance. Sausages anyone?!

We are a stone’s throw from the Red Fire zone – God Forbid there is a Fire how will the Fire Department and Ambulances get past when 150 Cars / SUV’s, Cars for 25 Staff members and over 200 elderly and young residents all trying to get out at the same time in smoky conditions via a narrow severely compromised lane.

The Garbage and Tradie trucks already have a problem getting through on normal days. We did not have a Street Sweeper come through for a very long time as the Truck would not get through the lane. Can you imagine what’s going to happen with 700 additional SUV’s plying past or parked on either side of the Road? Garbage collection day is going to need a Miracle.

With over 12 Child Care Centres within 2.5 Kilometres of this site why is the Council even considering a Mega Child Care centre in a narrow, quiet street and lending to creating a life threatening situation for ratepayers and outsiders alike?

Please do not approve this Mega Development spread across 3 blocks – let common sense prevail. Keep out Community safe and Children Safer.

This application should not be approved.

Merrivale Lane is called a lane for a good reason. It is a narrow, quiet street that cannot possibly accommodate the increased traffic a childcare centre for 150 children would create. Lack of pedestrian footpaths means people are obliged to walk on the road in parts of the lane where the gradient of the nature strip is too steep. Imagine parents with strollers having to park hundreds of metres away, then having to navigate their way around parked cars, residents driving out of steep driveways with limited visibility, and other traffic.

If this proposal is approved it will not reflect well on Council's regard for the safety of its residents. Any childcare centre would be unsuitable for this lane. One for 150 children is completely unreasonable.

This DA Should NOT be approved! It is a MASSIVE Child Care Development and totally inappropriate for Merrivale Lane.
It is not called Merrivale Road or Merrivale Street or Merrivale Highway.
Australian Oxford Dictionary states the meaning of a Lane as "a narrow road, track or passage. A strip of road for a single line of traffic"
The residents in the lane have continual problems coping with existing vehicular access. Between the dangerous intersection on the corner of Pentecost Ave & Merrivale Lane and managing the flow of residents traffic if there are cars parked on the street. There are constant problems with the collection of garbage and frustration by the truck drivers when they are unable to drive along the LANE due to restricted access.
To allow this type of BUSINESS to set up in a residential lane way, catering for 150 children x 100-150 cars dropping off in the morning and 100-150 cars picking up in the evening is insane!
It is not a matter of IF but WHEN will there be a tragedy involving a child/adult and cars or trucks due to the limited access.

This DA should NOT be approved. The ratepayers of any council have the expectation that their council will not only follow due process when considering any DA application but factor an element of common sense into the process.

There are 12 child care centres within a 2km radius of Merrivale Lane all of which appear in keeping with character of the street and size limited to the landscape - this is not an example of that. The proposed size and scale of this structure is simply unfathomable for a small suburban lane....my question to you would be not why shouldn't we pass it, but why would you pass it? Surely common sense will prevail here.

Traffic and Safety - We purchased in the "lane" due to its neighbourhood character and the quiet streets. With nearly every home having to reverse out of their driveway, this is a fatality waiting to happen. I have in the nearly 3 years of living here almost swiped numerous cars and hit oncoming traffic that appear out of nowhere over the crest in the lane on more occassions than I can count. When we were renovating and had just a few trades vehicles on the street it was impossible for residents and waste collection to get through the very small space between vehicles on both sides of the streets . Develop this land and factor the volume of traffic that this lane will have to service and it just doesn't make sense- surely common sense will prevail here.

The congestion that builds on Pentecost when I am turning into Merrivale is substantial- the increased traffic would create a build up of kilometres particularly in peak hour. There has been fatalities here and this again another accident waiting to happen.

Development- Whilst I understand change is good and probable with infrastructure and services, I believe that the building of such centres should be within an area that is zoned for such "commercial" business. If I wanted to live on Bobbin Head "Road" or the Pacific "Highway" then I would have spent less and bought there. OK so maybe common sense can't prevail in the drivers seat at the council but surely the council is in the business of serving the community not paving the way for poor precedence.

Noise - No amount of sound proofing (which has been proven not to work) will ensure that the noise will not be at an acceptable level. Again if I wanted constant noise in my backyard I would have bought under the flight path in the inner city! Don't be financially lured here Council - let common sense prevail!

Interestingly I have always had a fair opinion of council and its planning/assessment team and wondered why others hold them with the same regard as "uneducated used car salesman" - perhaps it's because I haven't been exposed to poor judgement and poor decision in the past. I have been served by councils that have used sound judgement with a dash of common sense - I only hope that Ku-ring-gai Council does not start precedence on something that goes down in the History books as a fiscal decision made in a time that decisions can be bought and without the respect and support of its rate payers.

Let common sense prevail Ku-ring-gai or you will have car parking/street rage, fatalities and a Lane that once was!

I write in connection with the above planning application. I have examined the proposed development carefully and I know Merrivale lane well. I have lived here for eight years.
I wish to object strongly to the development of DA0413/15 in this location.

Whilst pressure for the development by its applicant, presumably with deep pockets, may be considerable council must realise in its assessment that it is ill-considered.
Merrivale Lane is a small lane where development proposals should be accessed very carefully. The protection of the Lane’s visual, aural privacy and character must be preserved and this development proposal fails in every aspect to take the opportunities available for improving the area and the way it functions.

The incremental traffic volume and the associated safety risks created, both in the Lane and at the stop intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Road which is already a very dangerous blind intersection, would be disastrous as would the safety impact on residents and those who use the Lane for recreational activities.

It is notable to consider there are really no safe continuous foot paths in the lane. The foot paths are undulating and disconnected with large differences in levels necessitating children riding bikes and folks out and walking dogs needing to use the road. This once again with a substantial increase in traffic volume represents a sizable safety risk.

If two vehicles are parked opposite each other in the Lane, larger vehicles cannot pass through. This has been a source of frustration for many Garbage truck and street cleaner drivers and is well known to all who live in the street. Safety concerns in this regard have been reported in the past by drivers.

While design issues might be solved by conditions or revised proposals, these could not remedy the siting problem.

Furthermore, there is no need for this kindergarten in the immediate vicinity. There are already 12 within a three kilometer radius with a further DA application in the Bannockburn road vicinity.

If this application is to be decided by Councillors, please take this as notice that I would like to speak at the meeting of the committee at which this application is expected to be decided.
Please let me know as soon as possible the date of the meeting.

I agree with every comment made already about this proposal and strongly object. It is a commercial sized enterprise proposed for a street with nothing near commercial egress or infrastructure - road width, visibility, access, footpaths, on street parking. At the Pentecost Rd end the intersection is highly dangerous and always has been. A car waiting to turn right into Merrivale Lane, at the same time a car is waiting to turn right into Merrivale Rd, has seen many an accident. Recently someone turning into Merrivale Rd thought I had my lights in high beam, due to the angle of my car as I waited. They flashed their high beam at me, swung around fast barely missing my car and slammed into the curb. The right turn is dangerous due to cars still speeding through, even when a car is waiting to turn. At the Lane end people using the Lane as a shortcut regularly cut the blind corner at speed. The increased flow of traffic waiting to turn into Pentecost Rd from Mona Vale Rd which is already slow at peak will be impossible to get through. This is ill-conceived and I am surprised that the increased risk and liability issues are not more fully explored!

Proposed 150 place child care centre development
117, 119-121 Merrivale Lane Turramurra
• Sections of Merrivale lane are 7.1 mtrs wide ie narrower than council-designated road or street width of 8.5mtrs (sub.Div.Code 1972 sect 6.3)
• The area is zoned residential
• Residents access Merrivale Lane from their driveways, some are steep with nil visibility to the road
• Anticipated increased traffic (up to 150 cars at drop-off and again at pick-up), increased parking on both sides of Merrivale Lane, the potential for serious or fatal accident particularly children, the noise that would inevitably be generated by 150 children, the existence of inappropriate development in a residential area is not acceptable
• The cross road Merrivale Lane/Pentecost Ave/Merrivale Road is a dangerous intersection. A distracted driver, a moment of inattention at the wheel, could result in a fatal accident
THERE IS VERY REAL DANGER TO LIFE AND LIMB
THE LOCAL ENVIRONS ARE COMPLETELY NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A CHILD CARE CENTRE
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED

The poorly thought through development application for a huge 150-place commercial childcare centre in Merrivale Lane should be rejected by Council for the following numerous and very obvious reasons:-

The suggested site is on a triple block metres from a Red Fire hazard zone in one of the narrowest residential lanes in the surrounding area which raises terrible safety, emergency access and evacuation concerns.

The construction process required to excavate and build such a massive commercial enterprise would cause vehicular chaos in the lane, whilst the childcare centre itself would result in a dramatically increased traffic and parking overload to the point where the narrow lane simply could not cope.

Garbage trucks and street sweeping machines can already have difficulty weaving through the lane’s current levels of resident and tradespeople street parking and, with the traffic overload travelling to and from the childcare centre, as well as staff and customer’s street parking, this will inevitably result in traffic jams and parking difficulties that will frustrate the centre’s customers, let alone the residents.

As Merrivale Lane is a narrow road, some residents already find it hard to reverse out of their driveways if a car is parked opposite, so increased street parking and resultant loss of visibility of on-coming traffic and pedestrians will create a significant safety issue, especially with large volumes of little children involved – an accident waiting to happen. And should that terrible situation arise, how will ambulances manoeuvre through all the traffic, or fire engines be able to squeeze through parked cars on both sides and get close enough to the site, past 150 evacuated children plus staff and residents gathering on the street where there are no footpaths??

Clearly, the nature and scale of the application simply do not fit the proposed site.

Merrivale Lane is a quiet road with elderly residents and young families where children ride their bikes and scooters up and down the road but the nature and safety of the lane will be irretrievably compromised if the childcare centre goes ahead.

Introducing a substantial commercial business and its accompanying traffic and parking levels into the lane will mean that it will be far too dangerous for children to play in the street any more, heightened by the numerous deliveries made to the centre and extensive levels of garbage that will need to be collected.

In addition to these innumerable safety concerns, the centre would have a significant detrimental effect on the residents of Merrivale Lane.

The ugly design of the proposed build does not align with the residential streetscape but, of considerably more importance, the privacy of the surrounding properties would be utterly compromised and the noise levels of having 150 children playing in outdoor play areas metres from their homes would create a significant and on-going disturbance to the residents far beyond levels that could possibly honestly comply with Council’s restrictions.

It also goes without saying that it would be a struggle for residents to get in and out of their own driveways at peak times, as well as to even drive down the road, with such an increased volume of heavy traffic.

Please remember this is a little laneway, not a major road, and the results are likely to cause numerous accidents.

There is already a substantial number of existing childcare centres within minutes’ walking distance to Merrivale Lane. There will always be a need for childcare centres but it would seem far more logical to make additional childcare services available to the general public across a wider geographic spread rather than having so many bunched into a very small area.

And it would seem far more logical to place one in a road that provides sufficient and safe levels of access to the centre for both customers and emergency response vehicles.

Surely, in this case, Council’s sense and natural focus on safety will prevail and they will reject the proposal.

My home at 120 Merrivale Lane, where I have lived since 2000, is directly opposite the proposed development, and I dread the effects on road safety and on my amenity if this goes ahead.
Merrivale Lane is a quiet, narrow, picturesque, residential lane which abuts onto Pymble Golf course.  It simply does not have the capacity to take the traffic generated by a child care centre catering for as many as 150 children, as well as the carers and auxiliary staff who will also be coming and going throughout the days.  Whilst parking and on-site drop-off will be provided, there is no doubt many parents will, for expedience or because of congestion, offload their children by stopping/parking on both sides off the lane.  This will create constriction and real hazard, exacerbated by the high kerbs and steep verges that are a feature of the streetscape.  At present, when there has been building development, or if someone throws a party, parking on either side reduces the lane to a single way through, creating hazardous and sometimes impassable conditions for regular traffic.  Once the presence of dozens very young children is factored into the situation, the danger would be unacceptably high.
In terms of amenity, the proposed development would be noisy, an assault upon the visual privacy and devastating to the peaceful, picturesque surroundings that drew me and so many of my neighbours to buy our homes in Merrivale Lane.  It is especially galling that the owner of the properties subject to this proposal, has always shown an arrogant disregard for the residential environment and the people who live here, by allowing the houses to become derelict, not maintaining the gardens or the nature strips, and doing nothing to clear the litter and debris that are are an ever-present feature.  Such antisocial conduct has been an ongoing affront to those of us who take a pride and pleasure in living here, and who view our houses primarily as homes - not as investments to make a quick buck at the expense of our neighbours.

I would like to raise my objections against this development. I bought in Merrivale Lane approximately three years ago as the location was quiet and safe for my teenage daughter. It provided me with the best options to raise a family - a Lane which has great community spirit and low traffic (which is what a Lane should have) so I knew my daughter would be safe crossing the Lane to visit local friends.

The introduction of a 150 child day care centre will significantly increase traffic which will make it unsafe for all ages to venture out into the neighbourhood - the lane has no footpaths. Merrivale Lane also joins Pentecost Avenue at a very dangerous corner (I believe there has been several accidents on the corner to date), and the introduction of over 300 vehicles using this corner and Merrivale Lane will surely create more accidents.

I am aslo concerned about the noise that will be generated by the introduction of an extra 300 vehicles on a small lane, and the introduction of 150 children during the day.

The proposed construction also does not fit with the general feel of the neighbourhood - the siting, design bulk and scale exceed all other buildings in the immediate proximity as well as the suburb.

I believe the council needs to heed the feedback of the community - as this is what they have been elected to do - and not be influenced by external investors wanting to make a quick buck.

I bought in Turramurra because I love the area and the people - please don't destroy this.

Peter Langmaid

I agree with every comment made about this proposed development in Merrivale Lane.

Surely common sense and community safety has to outweigh the commercial opportunity that this proposed development is designed to generate for it's investors.

As a resident of Merrivale Lane for the past 6 years I am very aware of the traffic safety issues which exist today. Many cars use Merrivale Lane as a way to escape the traffic congestion on Pentecost Rd. The corner of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Rd should be labelled as a "black spot" but for reasons which the residents don't understand, the council refuses to do this.

Parking is already a challenge. Driving our cars out of driveways is already challenging and child safety has nearly reached serious levels.

Child care centres provide a wonderful service for all community's, but how could an application be considered when the issue of safety is such a major factor.

Service vehicles (rubbish trucks, ambulances, road sweepers, council workers) find Merrivale Lane dangerous to navigate today. Image how serious this will become when a development of this magnitude is built, with the significant increase in traffic it will create.

I share a quote which another resident of Merrivale Lane wrote......."Interestingly I have always had a fair opinion of council and its planning/assessment team and wondered why others hold them with the same regard as "uneducated used car salesman" - perhaps it's because I haven't been exposed to poor judgement and poor decision in the past. I have been served by councils that have used sound judgement with a dash of common sense - I only hope that Ku-ring-gai Council does not start precedence on something that goes down in the History books as a fiscal decision made in a time that decisions can be bought and without the respect and support of its rate payers".

I am writing to voice my objection to this application. I completely agree with all the comments posted to date and urge that common sense can prevail.

I have lived in the area all my life and we deliberately chose our current location due to the nature of Merrivale Lane – quiet, peaceful and free of traffic.

With that in mind, my first point of objective relates to the sheer size and scale of the application. A 150 place child care facility is grossly over the top. This application should be rejected outright for being excessive both in scale and bulk.

As the application relates to the business of child care, my second point of objection relates to aural privacy (ie noise). This is a quiet, leafy street for which we paid a premium to live here. I did not choose a location next door to a noisy childcare facility. This facility would threaten the very reason many of us choose to live here as it would significantly disrupt the peace.

Thirdly, this application is completely out of character for this neighbourhood. Once again, the reason many of us choose to live here was due to the character of the area. We did not choose to live in the vicinity of a 150 place child care facility. Upon reading about the application I was both shocked and disappointed that such an application could be made for this area.

My fourth point of objection relates to the issues that such a facility of this size would create. A quick visit of Merrivale Lane would show anyone that it is a tiny street in which two oncoming cars struggle to pass one another. A 150 place child care facility would place a significant strain on a small Lane as cars would come and go throughout the day (especially early in the morning and late in the day). This presents significant safety concerns for all of us. An underground carpark is far from adequate and again, in our experience, parents will do drop offs and pick ups on the streets. Surely safety is another significant reason to reject this application? What about amenities? Has anyone stopped to consider how on earth bins would be emptied on bin collection day or deliveries from couriers could be made? Once again, this is a small Lane and not a Road nor a Street.

Finally, this is a Lane with no gutters (only retaining walls) on the stretch from Pentecost to 117 Merivale Lane. This means that, practically, parking is at best limited to one side of the road if at all. I am not sure how or where residents nor their guests are expected to park their cars if a child care centre of any size were to open on this street.

For all of the above reasons, I would urge council to reject this application. I trust that common sense can prevail as this application is excessively large, grossly out of character and will cause us all aural distress. It would also create significant traffic and parking issues for a Lane.

Please do not destroy an area that we all love.

Dear Ku-Ring-Gai Council,

I write to strongly object to the proposed development of 117, 119-121 Merrivale Lane into a 150 place child care centre. This DA and any non-residential DA should not and must not be approved for reasons given below.
My family and I have lived in Merrivale Lane for over four years now. The reason we moved here is because it is a very local, peaceful and residential area with traffic limited to mainly local residents.

The DA for this huge child care centre as a commercial concern is completely out of character and most inappropriate to the lane. This DA will turn it into a huge commercial operation in very narrow lane which will not be able to cope with the significant increase in traffic from parents dropping off and picking up their children, the teachers and staff for the centre, the delivery and maintenance vehicles required to service the centre. In the event of an emergency, it will be difficult if not impossible for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances etc to get to the centre. The lane is so narrow that road side parking will easily block fire trucks getting through. Currently it is often difficult for the garbage trucks to service the lane when there are cars parked in the lane.

The Merrivale Lane, Pentecost Avenue, Merrivale Road Junction is a dangerous junction as it is located on a horizontal and vertical curve with a blind stretch for vehicles coming down the vertical curve of Pentecost Avenue. It is currently difficult for vehicles exiting Merrivale Lane onto Pentecost Avenue and more difficult during peak hours. The huge increase in traffic for this proposed DA will make it impossible. The Merrivale Lane and Buckra Street at the other end is also dangerous as it is a blind corner.

This being a residential and tranquil area with mainly local traffic has attracted a number of families with young children and they often play in the lane including families going for walks. The significant increase in traffic will create safety issues. The significant increase in traffic will also cause significant noise, air and visual pollution. This will be exacerbated during the construction of the huge development.

With this DA the residential and tranquil character of the lane will be completely destroyed. For now, the proposal may be for the child care centre to operate on weekdays during day time only, but there is nothing to stop it in future wanting to carry out other activities at night and during weekends, it being such a large a commercial operation and they have to make a return on their investment. Consider it as development creep.

I reiterate that the proposed DA and any non-residential DA must be rejected. I trust that common sense will prevail to preserve the residential and peaceful character of the lane.

Our beautiful lane will be seriously compromised should this huge Child Care development be approved. The lane is narrow, and even now has issues, especially on Friday mornings when garbage is collected. Residents' bins are often left on the street after being emptied, sometimes on their sides, creating further obstacle hazards for parents who are ferrying children to and from local schools in the mornings and afternoons. As it is they have to weave around parked cars and boats left on the lane. Add builders vehicles (mostly utes, SUVs, vans) and visitors cars to this narrow lane, and at times it is nearly impassable.

I have six very young grandchildren who regularly visit, and I have watched them being loaded into cars. The rear side doors are opened and a parent then leans in to put a child into a car seat, trying to keep an eye on their other children while they do so. Cars coming up or down the lane have to stop and wait while this is going on as the increased width of the car prevents them from passing, particularly if another car is parked on the opposite side of the lane. It is clearly dangerous, made even more so at times by impatient drivers. The potential for accidents will increase unacceptably if the traffic volume were to increase.

I strongly object to the proposal to turn Nos 117 and 119-121 Merrivale Lane into a 150 place child care centre. I am staggered that a developer could imagine for one moment that putting such a business in a quiet, narrow LANE would be a good idea.
I concur with all the comments above, the increased traffic and the parking problems would lead to a very dangerous situation. Like others in the lane, I am obliged to reverse out of my driveway, which has a high stone embankment on either side with next to no vision until my car is already protruding onto the roadway. Increased traffic in the lane will make this manoeuvre much more dangerous. There is no footpath on either side of Merrivale Lane for virtually the whole length, children walking home from school, residents taking a stroll and grandparents pushing grandchildren in strollers now have to walk along the actual roadway.
As has been mentioned in other comments above, when two cars park opposite each other on either side of the road it is very difficult for another car to fit between them and many is the time that the street sweeper and garbage truck literally "give up" and have to return at a later time (or day).
Living as I do at the Pentecost end of Merrivale Lane, I agree with those comments made about the dangerous intersection (Merrivale Lane/Pentecost Road). The increased traffic making the right hand turn will certainly lead to a dangerous situation, this is a corner that has seen many serious accidents and regular near misses. Traffic to and from a large child care centre (operating in both am and pm peak periods would would clearly lead to even more dangerous conditions at this blind corner.
I appeal to Ku-ring-gai Council - please do not approve this development. This is not another NIMBY whinge. If this mega child care centre is built, the lives of residents, local children, not to mention parents and small children who would visit such a facility would be in danger. I reiterate, this is a very narrow lane with already existing issues of parking, access to driveways, lack of footpaths. To approve this proposal would defy logic, decency and common sense.

How this DA could even be considered is baffling!

A business venture of this scale IN A QUIET SUBURBAN LANE raises serious concerns about town planning & the council.

We often hear about corruption within councils. This DA has obviously been submitted by an individual &/or organisation with deep pockets.

All the comments posted by others about this DA, which I don't need to write about again, CLEARLY OUTLINE how unsuitable this business venture is in this location.

THIS DA IS SO RIDICULOUS THAT IS RAISES BROADERS CONCERNS:
WHAT IS DRIVING THE COUNCIL'S DECISION MAKING?
How is it possible for a small residential suburban lane to be converted into a high traffic dangerous area for the residents (not to mention the parents & kids using the centre). This raises questions about the influence of business over community & safety. Anything other than keeping these blocks as intended (single residential dwellings) would raise questions & warrant further investigation.

Dear Councillors

This DA should NOT be approved. I wish to endorse all of the comments from the other email responses. The location is completely inappropriate. Merrivale Lane can not cope with the current traffic flow easily at present, never mind adding hundreds more cars. Some one will be fatally injured. There is a constant stream of accidents at the junction of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Avenue. We hear them from our house and I attended another one last week. The improvements to the bend in Pentecost have had no effect. A car crashed into the house on the corner of Rushall and Pentecost earlier this year.
The continual attempts to destroy Turramurra as a residential suburb with multi-storey apartment blocks, dual occupancy etc is proving to be successful. Further commercial development on a narrow residential Lane is, in my view, ludicrous, totally inappropriate.

There are 12 child care centres within a 2km radius of Merrivale Lane. Is the council sure that the business case for this development is viable or is this a thinly disguised Trojan Horse for a future apartment block.

Penetecost is at a standstill at peak periods already, traffic being in gridlock down from Banockburn Rd. Commercial Development needs to be in commercial zones with appropriate services not in a residential Lane.

The Council must be fair. I contend it is totally unfair and completely unreasonable to allow ratepayers to pay $2-3+ million for houses in this area then rezone land and permit a massive commercial development to be built in the immediate vicinity. If the council is going to rezone land it should be part of a master plan prepared well in advance that residents can comment upon. The Rezoning Process shouldn't be a knee jerk reaction to one off development applications that have been proposed with no regard to planning for the immediate region and the whole suburb.

I'm in favor of any reasonable urban development provided its done tastefully, is essential, is planned in consultancy with the locals and most of all does not endanger life and limb.

Once these Developments are driven by a the P/L statement and not by a town planner sympathetic to the needs and safeguards of the Residents then it raise serious questions.

The mere fact that this mega project will endanger lives via traffic accidents across all demographics, desecrate the neighborhood, have treacherous, long lasting financial ramifications for the Residents and only benefit a non-ratepayer developer clearly shows our local government may be making a profoundly irreversible and a poor decision by approving this application.

I am hopeful that once the Council recognizes the 100% disdain for this project by the rate-payers commonsense will prevail and they will revoke the application for this mega project.

Here's hoping ....!!

Re: DA0413/15

WARNING - SERIOUS RISK

The above referenced application raises serious safety risks to the health and well being of Merrivale Lane residents and to visiting relatives and friends to our Lane.

The Kur-ring-gai Council has a duty of care to ensure that their decisions do not put our families and loved ones safety at serious risk and therefore denying the above referenced application is the correct action to be taken.

It is a no brainer.

Everyone is raising objections - for the right reasons.

Our neighbours and local residents have articulated numerous and valid concerns:

1 -The sheer size and scale of the proposed child care centre is enormous and out of character for this Lane.

2 - The potential disturbance of the peace and environmental impact on wildlife that live along the Lane.

3 - The proposed development is a large business operation which is unprecedented in this narrow residential Lane.

4 - Traffic is already hazardous for those that reside in the Lane, there is no capacity to accommodate such an impost of vehicles that would come with any child care centre (large or small).

5 - Parking is already extremely tight due to the steep nature strips and only just copes with the vehicles belonging to or attending private residential homes. Merrivale Lane is not a place that should ever be considered for a commercial business operation such as a child care centre.

6 - Merrivale Lane is used daily by people going for their walks and dog walkers from our area because it is a laneway. These people walk along the road because pathways are not able to be installed along the steep nature strips. This is a laneway that the community enjoys for these recreational activities.

7 - Access to Merrivale Lane is difficult and already causes traffic congestion on Pentecost Ave.

8 - Access to Merrivale Lane from Buckra Street is also blind due to the land topography. When turning right into Merrivale Lane from Buckra Street drivers immediately face a blind crest in the road. If cars are parked on either side of the road there is a high potential for a collision now. Increased traffic to this narrow T- intersection would be very dangerous.

Please, Councillors of Kur-ing-gai, think very seriously about the gravity of the issues and risks being raised and the repercussions for you as a council if you fail to make a responsible and safety focused decision.

If Council does not block this application, it is inevitable that many road and traffic accidents will follow for years to come.

Surely the Kur-ing-gai Council does not want blood on their hands?

Do you NOT look at your own planning and development applications!? You have several child care centres with a few kilometres of this location (existing or being built at the moment). The lane barely copes with two cars travelling down at any one time and has no footpath for pedestrians. You would have to be the most inventive money grabbing lowlife to place people's lives at risk (including children) for the sake of additional council funds.

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.

We as residents of Merrivale Lane....DO NOT want this INAPPROPRIATE development to go ahead.
We have lived in Merrivale Lane since 1998. The Lane has had quite a few places renovated during this time. The traffic during these renovations has been very difficult to navigate. We felt for the service trucks that had to negotiate the parked tradesmen's vehicles.
To have the volume of vehicles each day coming and going in the lane would be unreasonable. It would impact on Pentecost Avenue, the traffic volume already on Pentecost Avenue at peak hour is very high and the intersection of Pentecost Avenue and Merrivale Lane and Merrivale Road is a dangerous area to navigate at the best of times.
The Lane is narrow and with parked vehicles it will be hard for the cars coming from the underground car park to have a good line of site on exiting on to Merrivale Lane.
We also feel Parents will not use the proposed drop off area in the car park and will use the street to park, this will cause problems with the lane being so narrow. The high kerbs we have in the lane already cause problems, vehicles have to park further into the Lane, because it is difficult to open car doors against the kerb. This would make it very dangerous to lift a child from a vehicle parked in the lane.
The lane is so narrow when cars are parked on both sides of the lane there is barely enough space for a cars to drive between.

The design of the building on 117 does not suit the surrounding area of the Lane.

The noise of the vehicles just by volume and the general noise of the Child Care Centre would be constant and unreasonable.

This application is absolutely ridiculous. The reasons have been outlined by everyone who has already commented, and all those who are yet to comment, and they are all completely legitimate reasons.

Merrivale Lane is a narrow road as anyone who had driven on it knows too well. Having to keep your eyes and brain constantly aware of other cars, children, elderly residents as well as wildlife at all times. The enormous amount of extra traffic this development will attract means that it will be a matter of when, not if, an accident will occur.

And what if there is any other kind of emergency?

Are all the other child care centres in the area completely full? There have been new ones added only recently, and several existing ones close by. Surely there hasn't been that much of in increase in the area's population.

There is absolutely no reason this large development should be approved for this area. I can't understand why it is even being considered.

This DA should not be approved!

As a resident of Merrivale Lane for a number of years I am deeply concerned by the proposed development as submitted to council for numbers 117, 119, and 121.

My primary concern in this matter is one of safety.

This development will result in a huge increase in vehicle usage in our Lane with around an additional 3500 vehicle trips per week , often with parents rushing to make pickup.

The Laneway is so narrow that 2 vehicles are unable to pass each other when there are cars parked on the road.

The intersection at the corner of Pentecost and Merrivale Lane is already an extremely dangerous black spot that has not just the potential to result in serious injury, it already has resulted in injury to pedestrians.

There are no footpaths in this street, people walk their children to school Mothers walk prams on the roadway, people walk their dogs, children ride their bikes and scooters.

The possibility for injury will increase massively and is extremely concerning!

Then there is the sheer size of this development!

-Over 4000M2,
-over 150 children,
-around 20 staff!

This will make it in excess of 3 times the size of other childcare centres in the area. Its sheer scale will dwarf and overshadow the houses in the our Laneway

We simply do not need this type of Mega childcare centre given that there are already 12 child care centres within 2.5 kms of this development,. To plan and construct one of this scale and in this location really is uncalled for and excessive.

I’m not against the development of childcare centres, however, they should be sympathetic to their environment and appropriate in scale. It should also be considered that there are no other commercial developments in Merrivale Lane.

This is not a neigbourhood childcare centre with the purpose of servicing the local community! It is a huge, highly commercial development supported by investment whose motives have nothing to do with contributing to the local community.

It is all about corporate greed.

Please do not the proposed childcare centre for 150 children in Merrivale Lane.

I am a frequent visitor to Merrivale Lane.

The Lane is quite narrow. Currently cars need to pull over to allow a passing car on the other side around parked cars and residents bins.

I feel it could become quite chaotic and a safety issue if 150+ cars were racing in and out each morning and afternoon.

This is not a good location for a large scale Childcare centre and such a large centre is out of character of the surrounding neighbourhood.

Please listen to the residents of Merrivale Lane!!

This application needs to be opposed.
Traffic in the area is already stressed, the street this proposed on has very little thoroughfare at the best of times as I have to stop several times each morning to share a single lane with other cars, any more traffic will bring the street to a standstill.
In addition, the turn into and from Pentecost is a major accident or twenty waiting to happen.
A childcare centre of this size is not in keeping with the neighbourhood, the environment, the peaceful occupancy that people move into the area for and really should be situated at one of the many developments commencing or applied for in st Ives a few minutes away.
I do not see how council will be able to prepare and provide for adequate footpaths either, the street has little walkways on the front verges and there would be many challenges such as trees and other obstacles. Obviously footpaths would need to be built as many parents dropping to a daycare centre will need to use prams and could not be forced to take such risks as using the road.
In a nutshell, this proposal poses way too many issues for the area and will affect all in the suburb due to its close, short, tight network of roads..... As we have experienced in the past with things such as tree lopping, a congested street can hold up all streets in the area with congestion.
Greatly opposed, don't let this happen.

Dera Councillors,

This development must be opposed for the following reasons:

1) This kind of large development within this residential area will create a great hazard in all aspects of our daily living.

2) This will create an enormous traffic congestion especially in the peak hours of morning and peak hours of afternoon. Also, it will damage our visual privacy and aural privacy (nose).

3) This will also create a great degree difficulty for emergency services such as ambulances and fire services to enter in an emergency as a result of street blockage.

4) My family is living in this area for the last twenty years (approx.). Already, the population has grown too much. The volume of traffic has grown too much. The eco system in the area is gradually damaging in every aspect. Now, this kind large development is unthinkable. It must be stopped without a question.

5) As the existing residents are parking their own cars on the streets. During the morning or afternoon, when people are going to office or returning from office, it is difficult to give room for crossing each other. It is becoming very prone to traffic accidents.

6) The street parking is gradually disappearing. If we organise a family function, there will be no parking space.

7) Existing old houses are being demolished and allowing to build two houses on the block. Due to this, the area is already conjested. So, it will be unwise to allow a big development like this.

Existing old houses are being demolished and allowing to build two houses on the block. Due to this, the area is already congested. So, it will be unwise to allow a big development like this.

We strongly request to stop this development.

Can somebody please explain to me the rationale for this development.

We take three homes in a quite neighborhood and develop a large scale business in a small residential Lane.

Are there really any rules?

Council,i am looking for a new factory site in Sydney.I only employ 110 people and make less noise than 150 children.Could i please put forward my DA for a new factory in Merrivale lane as well?

or perhaps Mac Donald's could put up an outlet or how about Woolworth's.

After all whats the difference??????????

THERE IS NO LOGIC HERE AT ALL.

BOOT THE APPLICATION OUT.

As a regular visitor to Merrivale Lane Turramurra believe that that this development should not be approved due to the following reasons:-

The 'Lane' is too narrow to accommodate the increased traffic of 300+ car movements per day.

The intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Road is a current 'black spot' hazard and further traffic movements will add to potential risk.

The development is not an appropriate size or scale for a neighbourhood centre and would better serve the community at a transport hub such as Turramurra or St Ives Village.

I object to the proposal to construct a mega childcare facility in this street. The area is totally unsuitable for the intended purpose and is in any case already well serviced by numerous childcare facilities in close proximity. The traffic generated will completely erode the amenity of this area which was a major consideration when we moved to the area. A facility of this size is more appropriately located proximate to medium density housing and/or where the demand is. I am very concerned about the safety implications of a massive increase in traffic in surrounding streets including Charlton Ave given we have already had a vehicle side swiped with major damage whilst parked at the kerb.. I implore council to reject the application. I am a qualified early childcare teacher.

Given that Kuringai Council is a dithering lot and scared of Child Care Centre applications going to the L&E court I have little hope that resident objections will be actually considered so brace yourselves residents. Keep your arguments factual and unemotive. The bare facts are that councils are strapped for cash (protecting their fiefdoms by not sensibly amalgamating to provide economies of scale and efficiencies), and need development contributions to keep their salaries paid.

Do not rely on your local ward councillor either as they will have likely been briefed on it over a nice lunch and will be supportive. they will give you weasel words but do nothing to help you.

The approval of centres at North Turramurra Nursery, 2 at Bannockburn Road North(despite 1 having at least 30 inconsistencies with the relevant zoning and regulatory provisions: refer DA0125/13- which had 70 objections and still got approved) and Pentecost Avenue in addition to existing supply will make Turramurra a childcare hotspot.
-Noise arguments get ignored and Council just requires the operator put a "management plan" in place, which becomes largely unenforceable.
- Parking arguments are ignored whilever the required numbers per regulations are provided, even if that includes on street supplementation
-Traffic arguments are not listened too- if the road exists then people have a right to drive on them since its public space.

Examine the proposals against;
-Council DCP43 Parking
-Council DCP 57 Child Care Centres
-Kuringai Childrens Needs Study July 2010 (GML Social research commissioned by Council)
- RTA's "Guide to traffic Generating Developments"
-NSW Government Children (Education and Care Services) Supplementary Provisions regulation 2012 (Part 3, Section 52,
and other planning instruments and read the application with a fine tooth comb for errors and inconsistencies. The best you can hope for is some approval conditions that part way address your concerns.

Emotive arguments regarding oversupply and such will be dismissed out of hand. Do your homework and hope for the best whilst preparing for the worst.

I live in Pymble not far from Merrivale Lane and as a frequent visitor to Merrivale Lane (I have friends that live there) I believe that this development should not be approved for the following reasons:

a) The sheer size and scale of the proposed child care centre is enormous and completely out of character for this Lane and area.

b) A centre of this size will create an enormous traffic congestion especially in the peak hours of morning and peak hours of afternoon in the Lane.

c) The intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Ave is very dangerous. The increase in the traffic turning into Merrivale Lane will only make this more dangerous.

d) The noise that a centre of this size will produce is not acceptable to the residents that live in the street.

e) The land is not zoned for this type of development.

Please listen to the residents of Merrivale Lane and not approve this centre.

This is an inappropriate site for such a development. The street is a narrow, almost single lane. The intersection at Pentecost is on a down hill corner and always very difficult to negotiate with speeding Pentecost traffic. This a site that as had several car crashes recently. In fact 3 weeks ago I witnessed another.
There are several child care centres within proximity to this street including a couple of new constructions.
The Lane is a very quiet street with limited access for emergency vehicles and parents.
I am on Rushall St and regularly get honked for coming out of my driveway it has become a short cut with the ever increasing traffic. Further increase to traffic in these smaller streets would be very detrimental.

As a resident of Merrivale lane, I find it unbelievable that the council would allow a development of this size to be allowed to go ahead on a residential narrow lane that barely functions with activity now!

Assessment of blind spots on driveways, Right hand turn on Pentacost (a near death experience), danger to residents, car parking and pedestrian footpaths are none existent...all these must be considered.

All residents have purchased substantial investments in there property to live in a quiet residential area...are we now expected to lose that for the sake of a Council desperate for dollars?
Why in a small street when there are 3 new developments going ahead in area for childcare-where is the immediate need?????

This application should not be approved.

Merrivale Lane is called a lane for a good reason. It is a narrow, quiet street that cannot possibly accommodate the increased traffic a childcare centre for 150 children would create. Lack of pedestrian footpaths means people are obliged to walk on the road in parts of the lane where the gradient of the nature strip is too steep. Imagine parents with strollers having to park hundreds of metres away, then having to navigate their way around parked cars, residents driving out of steep driveways with limited visibility, and other traffic.

If this proposal is approved it will not reflect well on Council's regard for the safety of its residents nor common sense. There are more than enough childcare centres in the area and ones that are built in locations that can cater to increased traffic - not a laneway such as Merrivale.

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: DA0413/15

I strongly object to the above application for development approval for the establishment of a 150 place child care centre at the properties located at 117 and 119-121 Merrivale Lane.
My wife and I moved only some 18 months ago to this wonderfully quiet, peaceful and family oriented residential area because of all of the benefits that such a neighbourhood offered. The granting of approval to this proposed business would in one fell swoop largely, if not totally, render nugatory all such benefits.
I fully support each and every one of the large number of other objections that I am aware have been lodged by residents and other concerned ratepayers in relation to this DA. In doing so I would wish to emphasise the following:
1. Traffic issues:
Merrivale Lane is a narrow roadway which, when residents’ vehicles are parked on the road, already creates significant difficulties for other road users, both residents and Council vehicles, in moving up and down the Lane safely. The large increase in traffic movements which would necessarily accompany this development, particularly but not exclusively at the beginning and end of each day, will only exacerbate the existing issues, especially as Merrivale Lane is effectively a dead end and vehicles dropping off their children may well look to turn around rather than exit the area using the longer route via Buckra Street. Entry into Merrivale Lane via Buckra is also dangerous because of the crest in the road at this junction.
The traffic and safety situation is made worse when it is recognised that Merrivale Lane has no pedestrian footpaths at this end and this means that residents and walkers have to use the roadway. How this will translate to parents walking their very young children into the proposed centre in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon as they dodge around residents’ cars and other parents turning vehicles does not really bear thinking about.
Access from and into Merrivale Lane at the intersection with Pentecost Avenue is on a blind corner and is extremely dangerous. Increased traffic into and out of the Lane at this intersection can only increase that risk.
2. Residential amenity:
The expression “like putting a bull into a china shop” has rarely had such relevance as it does here to describe any suggestion that this DA should be approved. This proposed development is in substance and effect a large scale commercial operation with all the attendant noise and traffic movements of parents, children, teachers, carers and suppliers. It seems in reality to be equivalent to an application for approval of a new school. Such a development simply has no place in this quite unique and tightknit cul de sac community.
3. Need:
The fact is that there are number of existing child care centres within the immediate area of Merrivale Lane, including one such centre in Pentecost Avenue just up the road which earlier this year was granted approval to significantly increase its numbers. It is not clear whether there is any shortfall of places in long day care centres in Kuring-Gai but, even assuming that there may be such a shortfall, this should be met through increasing the numbers in existing centres in preference to granting approval to totally inappropriate developments such as this one.
Yours sincerely

Tony Gooch

We opppose the Proposed Development for the following reasons:
Our home is a 135 Merrivale Lane Turramurra, just up the road from the proposed development.
We have owned our home since approximately 1985.
The street has always been very quiet and is narrow in comparison with surrounding streets (hence being referred to as a Lane).
The proposed scale of the development is completely inconsistent with both the size of the street and the the low-density residential character of the neighbourhood.
There is insufficient space on the street to accommodate large traffic flows which will occur if the 150 place child-care centre proceeds. There are already frequent traffic accidents at the corner of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Avenue which is a blind corner and a dangerous intersection.
We note that it is proposed to provide on site basement parking for only 38 cars. At peak times during drop off and pick up there would therefore be up to an additional 100 cars (at least) attempting to access the narrow lane, creating a traffic and safety hazard for residents and children alike.
Many of the additional cars will seek parking along the street so that small children can be delivered to the day-care centre. It is obvious that there is simply insufficient street parking to accommodate such a large numbers of vehicles.
The noise and disruption to the amenity of local residents is unreasonable and unacceptable.
The bulk and scale of the proposed development is not in keeping with the residential detached housing along the lane.
We would be grateful if you would refuse to approve the proposed development.

Please do not approve this development. As residents of Buckra Street for over 40 years, we are most concerned for several reasons including -

1. Traffic congestion will increase - already heavy in what is supposed to be a purely residential area;
2. The intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Avenue is already dangerously blind;
3. Merrivale Lane is presently a quiet residential street. If council approve this development, more traffic will flow into Buckra Street which is already taking a lot of additional "cut through" traffic when Pentecost avenue is slow particularly in rush hours.
4. By its very nature a child care centre creates a lot of noise.
5. Wildlife which uses the golf course and the bush land corridor from Kuringgai chase across into the junction of Merrivale Lane and Buckra Steeet will be endangered.
6. There are already 5 other large day care centres and preschools in the immediate area - another child care centre is not warranted and does not belong in the middle of a quiet residential area.
7. Merrivale Lane is a narrow road - there is no room for any additional street parking
8. Property values will decrease and the peace and harmony of the area will be adversely affected.

We were really upset to learn of the new proposed development in Merrivale Lane. We live in Buckra Street, just around the corner from the site and have done so for 15 years. We bought here for the peace and quiet. Why on earth would it seem appropriate to allow a child care facility to move into a quiet lane like Merrivale? Surely a facility taking 150 children would be better suited to an area with high traffic density and closer to businesses? Imagine the chaos in the mornings both coming and going out of the small lane and onto Pentecost Avenue - around a very sharp bend I might add. I predict that there would be an accident shortly thereafter, I've already seen several accidents on that spot. To increase the traffic there would be irrational.

There is little or no parking on Merrivale Lane and I imagine it would become completely jammed with traffic in peak hours. Not a safe environment for any child facility.

The golf club has always been a source of pride in this area and is a much sought after area for residents to live around. Why waste such a huge frontage on a child care facility? Surely Mona Vale Road, or an avenue around the St Ives shopping centre would be more appropriate? I imagine the noise from the child care centre would be loud and most unpleasant for members of the golf club.

Is there truly a need to put a child care centre here? We already have (off the top of my head) in the very immediate surroundings, Kindy Kids, St Ives, OAC, Turramurra, Pooshcare Pymble, Heritage House Child Care Turramurra, Mungarra Kindergarten, St Ives, Beehive Turramurra Childcare etc etc. I believe two more are currently being developed along Bannockburn Road, one is planned for the corner of Canberra and Bannockburn and the other is in the process of being developed further along Bannockburn, closer to the intersection of Bobbin Head. How many is that in a 5 minute radius?

I object to this development from every possible angle. The neighbourhood is a residential one with people who care for their homes, their privacy and their peace. Please ensure it stays that way and do not allow this development to proceed.

This Application should not be approved
In that:

Location
The siting of a child day care centre in a narrow residential lane (width of 7.3mtrs) is totally inappropriate
There are 3 such centres within 1 km of the proposed site
The Location does not comply with Councils Development Control Plan DCP57/3.1 Chapter Objectives/Preferred Locations for Child Care Centres

Traffic Flows Parking and Congestion
The Traffic and Parking Assessment Report, compiled by Varga Traffic Planning Pty Ltd to support the Application, fails to address or ignores certain issues as follows:
Traffic Flow
The data In the Traffic and Parking Assessment Report was obtained on a Wednesday and a Thursday, two fairly quiet days of the week. A Monday and/or Friday would be more representative of accurate vehicles/per/hour (vph) in Merrivale Lane
The report does not address the extra vph generated by the impact of up to 26 staff cars
The report uses 23yr old data from an RTA survey, which assumed that 75% of the children arrived at a day care centre by car. With no public transport close to the proposed Merrivale Lane centre, and the taking into account the age of the RTA data, the applicable figure is undoubtedly higher
The report assumes that an increase in traffic of 105 ‘child care’ vehicles (I dispute this figure as too low) is spread evenly over the ‘peak’ period between 4pm and 6pm. However a survey undertaken outside a Manly Vale Child Care Centre on Wed 7th Oct found that of the vehicles entering the premises between 4pm and 6pm 66% did so between 4.30pm and 5.30pm
When applying this figure (66%) to a projected Merrivale Lane traffic of 105 additional vph we will see an increase of 70 vph during a peak period of 4.30 to 5.30pm!
The report does not take into account traffic that uses Merrivale Lane as a ‘rat-run’ during times of heavy congestion in Pentecost Ave.
The report states that quote:
‘Two-way traffic flows in Merrivale Lane are significantly lower, typically in the order
of 25 vph during peak periods’.
This assumption of 25 vph is inaccurate. Traffic observed on Friday 2nd October at exactly 5pm traffic in Merrivale Lane northbound was 15 vehicles during a 4 minute period

Parking
With 26 staff and only 20 staff parking places, the report offers no guidance where the remaining 6 staff members will park - presumably kerb-side, increasing standing congestion in the Lane
Merrivale Lane is a narrow residential lane ( at one point only 7.3mtrs wide). The report notes that it is an unclassified road but fails to address its narrow width and the inability of opposite direction traffic to pass where vehicles/boats are parked at kerb-side – one vehicle has to give way

THE STATEMENT BY VARGA THAT QUOTES: ‘In the circumstances, it is clear that the proposed development will not have any unacceptable traffic implications in terms of road network capacity’
IS MISLEADING

Safety Concerns
There are no pavements for pedestrian traffic use in Merrivale Lane from Pentecost Ave to the proposed development site. Currently joggers, walkers with and without dogs, mothers/grannies with push-chairs share the Lane road surface with cars etc
The junction of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Ave gives restricted visibility of traffic proceeding in either direction along Pentecost Ave. It is incongruous, from a safety aspect, that an increase in current levels of traffic at this junction should be contemplated
The proposed two lane entrance/exit into the day care centre is in an adverse position. Line of sight of traffic using the Lane in either direction is extremely poor

A DAY CARE CENTRE WILL CONSTITUTE A GREATER HAZARD FOR
MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS

I cannot agree more with all the comments made. My objections are:
1. How narrow the lane is to get through with the current traffic
2. We are in bush fire zone
3. The dangerous for cars exisiting to Penticost Ave
4. No footpath
Please do not approve.

This application should not be approved. Please remember that Merrivale Lane is a LANE- it is already hard enough reversing out of the driveway due to the narrow width of the lane, let alone getting out of the driveway when there are cars parked adjacent to the driveway. Now this proposition to have cars enter in and out of Merrivale LANE - with the addition of garbage and deliveries... it evidences itself as a terrible idea.

I too agree with every comment thus far.

A simply summary

1. no foot paths
2. RED fire zone
3. lane - "narrow road"
4. increased traffic flow in the "lane" and the surrounding quiet, safe "residential" streets
5. exit to Penticost Ave is a blind dangerous corner
6. child care centres exist on Penticost Ave, Bannockburn Rd, Bobbin Head Rd, Eastern Rd (have I missed any?), if this "entrepreneur" cares to offer quality facilities to families how about spreading the love and seek alternative locations which genuinely need child care spaces in their areas !

I sincerely hope the council will treat this this application with the care and responsibility that their rate pays expect.

And BIN IT !

We are long term residents of Charlton Ave and have already seen a massive increase in the volume of traffic in our area. Our biggest concern with this proposal is the safety implications the extra traffic will have on our local streets. Pentecost Ave is a very busy link road between Bobbin Head Rd and Mona Vale Rd and although it has a speed limit of 50kph it is rarely heeded. Cars waiting to turn into either Merrivale Lane, Merrivale Rd or Charlton Ave frequently halt the traffic flow in Pentecost Ave which creates impatience and frustration for the people passing through. At peak times when parents will invariably be dropping off or picking up children from this proposed centre the extra traffic will only increase the risk to people already navigating these dangerous intersections. All these corners have blind spots that have caused numerous traffic accidents over the years. We ceased turning right into Pentecost from our road years ago after several near misses from speeding cars coming from the blind spot on the left. The exit from Merrivale Lane is even more hazardous. One can only imagine what the consequences will be if people with no local knowledge of the conditions start using these roads on a frequent basis. The fact that such a proposal would even be considered appropriate in Merrivale Lane which is such a narrow, hard to access and difficult to navigate lane is astounding and concerning.
The area is also in a designated bush fire zone and the limited access for emergency vehicles, should they be required, must be a concern for everyone involved. This will further put lives at risk.

We have real concerns about the safety issues involved with this proposal and hope council give it the serious consideration it deserves.

I write to support the opposition voiced by the residents of Merrivale Lane to this proposed development.

It is inevitable that the large increase in traffic volume flowing from it will, in a narrow lane with largely unusable footpaths, lead to serious pedestrian injury or even fatality.

The amenity of adjoining streets, (Buckra Street and Charlton Avenue) which are already carrying unreasonably high traffic volumes from vehicles using them as shortcuts, will also be adversely affected.

This is a large commercial development which should only be carried out in an area already zoned for commercial use rather than a quiet residential lane. It is totally unworkable and should not be allowed to diminish the amenity of existing residents and, more importantly, put their safety at risk.

This is an inappropriate site for a huge childcare centre. It is a residential area and a narrow street with limited access. Traffic will be a HUGE problem. This should be sited away from homes due to noise and traffic. The street is unable to be widened and 2 cars cannot pass if there are cars parked. Please do not allow this development to go ahead.

I strongly object to the proposal for development of a large child care centre with in the residential area of Merrivale Lane.

The increase in traffic flow that this centre will bring will only add to the risk of accidents occurring at the potentially fatal corner of Pentecost Ave and Merrivale Lane. Not to mention how congested the street will become, a further risk for both residents and potential clients of the centre.

Child care centres are a necessity within communities today however there are already 12 centres within a short distance of Merrivale Lane and many more within a slightly broader distance. The need for such a large scale centre within a quiet narrow lane is non existent. It is a money hungry venture that simply does not make sense.

I implore that the council has enough sense to know the difference between necessity and greed!

WE ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL REFERENCE DA0413/15/

We have been residents of Merrivale Lane for approximately eight years and for the whole time that we have been here Merrivale lane has been an inadequate Laneway at best.

Unlike Merrivale Road, Merrivale Lane is an extremely narrow piece of roadway that is more often than not already clogged with parked cars, making it extremely difficult to navigate and dangerous to pedestrians because of the lack of footpaths down either side of the length of the lane and a lack of adequate nature strips along significant sections of the lane.

To even consider a proposal for a child care centre catering for 150 children is completely ludicrous. Yet another example of a council with no common sense and no understanding of the area over which they are supposed to have detailed knowledge.

Even child care centre with a significantly smaller number of Children would be inappropriate considering the amount of available space and the very restricted road access that already exists in the street. A large Childcare centre is simply a ridiculous notion and a proposal that should not have even been considered by Council in this location.

I think this proposal would be a traffic nightmare. The road is narrow and unable to sustain the extra traffic this type of development would generate.

There are enough childcare centres nearby and this is an inappropriate location for a centre.

I am writing to object to the building of the new child care centre. I have lived in Charlton Street for 45 years and it has been a beautiful, quiet area. My objections are that it will increase our traffic and cause chaos in our streets. The entrance onto Pentecost Avenue is already dangerous and I feel that this will just make matters a lot worse.

I am 82 and I am worried about the safety of this area. This will make driving down Merrivale Lane very much more difficult for me. It is already a problematic road to drive down as there often many cars parked there. We already have the added burden of traffic on Charlton Avenue that use our road to access the shops in Princes Street, this will make traffic so much busier.

Please do not agree to this application.

I too strongly oppose this planning application for all of the reasons outlined to date. Having recently fought (and lost) our own community battle with Council, however regarding high rise development plans for Orinoco St in Pymble (also a quiet, residential, dead end street with private lane way access) I can only hope that common sense will prevail in this case and the untenable proposal for Merrivale Lane will be overturned.

I find this proposal absolutely horrifying and cannot believe that ANY council in their right mind with even a grain of consideration for their constituents, would consider in any serious way.

If this development goes ahead, I am convinced it will only be because of the potential income it will mean to local government. There is no way that this tiny, narrow lane can sustain the traffic chaos that will ensue as a result. It's bad enough around much smaller day care centers.

Plus, there is an 'Over 50s' property either next door or a few down - how on earth can anyone with half a brain, plan to build a daycare centre so close? Aren't there sufficient centres already available in the area?

I don't live in the street nor in the suburb, but I'm interested in monitoring the honesty & integrity of Local Councils in general, so it will be worth watching how this council proceeds. The best interests of all the street's residents vs the greed of a spineless property developer (& possibly the local council). Who will win? Hmm, it will be intriguing to see the outcome of this David & Goliath battle.

As a local resident I am very concerned about this application.

Merrivale Lane is a quiet, very narrow residential LANE and can only cope with a small amount of traffic due to its width. There are huge safety implications in having such an enormous increase in the number of cars and trucks/vans. This increase of over 500% will destroy the community feeling of the area and put our children at great risk. The increase in traffic will also affect the areas wildlife, which is rich and varied, and put our native animals in danger.
Parking in the lane can be difficult as its narrow and the increase in traffic will probably make it impassable at times. Having lived by a school before, I know first hand how inconsiderate people can be to local residents.

The sheer size of the development is outrageous - 150 places is enormous for a childcare centre, and this makes the proposed site even more inappropriate. The visual privacy of the residents needs to be thought about, along with noise. It will destroy the character of the neighbourhood.

To have this go ahead quite is unthinkable, it will change our quiet corner of Turramurra into a traffic nightmare.

Dear Ku ring gai councillors,

It is a sad day for the people on Merrivsle Lane and surrounding streets as this little area will take so much strain and be put into gridlock every day with at least 700 additional vehicle trips a day, mostly concentrated into peak periods in the morning and evening.

Local Flora, Fauna and the Environment will be greatly impacted.

• The massive scale of the proposal, 150 kids and across 4000M2. This is not designed for the immediate community, but to draw from a far wider area.
• The site in a narrow suburban lane. There is not enough room for cars to pass each other in opposing directions when there is a vehicle parked on the kerb.
• There are no footpaths near the proposed development, putting pedestrian traffic at risk.
• The very dangerous intersection at the corner of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Avenue.
• The close proximity of a “Red bushfire zone” only a few house blocks.

I hope that council takes these remarks into consideration and does not chase the dollar.

Thank you
Janine Harfeli

RE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: DA0413/15

I strongly object to the above application for development approval for the establishment of a 150 place child care centre at 117 and 119-121 Merrivale Lane.

I refer to the Ku-ring-gai council Traffic and Transport plan 2011-2021 issued by Ku-ring-gai Council in September 2011 located at this link:
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAAahUKEwizhNGA7sDIAhUKFJQKHdXIB7M&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kmc.nsw.gov.au%2Ffiles%2F016f4a92-ccc9-41ca-871b-a15000de3ab1%2F10_Year_Traffic_and_Transport_Plan_-_2011_-_2021.pdf&usg=AFQjCNEPRd6LYygI3dJH73lIIqmjZl1mxA

This report identifies specifically the intersection of Pentecost Ave and Merrivale Rd (assumption of Merrivale Lane as a part of this intersection) as a Ranked Site for Traffic Management Works. (ranked 30 on page 15 resulting in 5 accidents over 2005-2009 and with a percentage score of 57%)

My argument here is that if the council has previously deemed this specific intersection as a site for further traffic management with current traffic flow. It would be irresponsible for council to decide to approve a develompent to increase the traffic flow at that intersection having already identified it as a problem area. Not only that, they would be in direct contradition to previous assesment of this intersection if they deem it safe.

This report also identifes Pentecost Avenue as a Collector road approaching Regional road in its function in the Councils road hierarchy on page 7. The independant traffic report done by Varga traffic planning attached to the DA states "Merrivale Lane, Buckra Street and Pentecost Avenue are local, unclassified roads which are primarily used to provide vehicular and pedestrian access to frontage properties." The judgement of the Varga Traffic Planing report on this intersection in this report is flawed in respect to perception of the road heirachy of Pentecost Avenue and therefore so are the results.

My view is aligned with many of the local residents view that Merrivale Lane (and in concequence Buckra Street and the intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost avenue) are not designed for such increased traffic flow that a development of this scale would demand. The lack of footpaths; The blind corner; crest in the road at the junction via Buckra; the narrow width (7.3meters) of the Lane, the impact if there is a build up of cars turning left onto Pentecost from either Merrivale Lane or Buckra Street; the inability to do a 3 point turn without the use of residents driveways; There are 3 such centres within 1 km of the proposed site; The Location does not comply with Councils Development Control Plan DCP57/3.1 Chapter Objectives/Preferred Locations for Child Care Centres; are all valid points of concern and not easily rectified considering proximity of house frontages to the Lane itself. Not only would it directly impact the safety of the residents of the local community it would also cause greater inconvienience to those using Pentecost Avenue in a regional road capacity thus causing build up of traffic through the adjoining roads (Bobbin Head Rd, Eastern Road, Mona Vale Rd). Council has already proven their concern about this intersection in the past and hence would be inplicated greatly if an accident or fatality were to occur because of negligence of these issues. Surely common sense would prevail in deniying this application. I encourage council to not approve DA0413/15

Sincerely
Joseph Natoli

Objection to the DA for a 150 person Child Care Centre
We appeal to our councillors in regard to this application. It is inappropriate to place any childcare centre in this lane-way for many reasons.
* This is a lane-way & is named as such. This means it is narrow. It also has no pedestrian pathway on either side of the road because of the narrowness of the space. Consequently there are issues regarding parking on the street for, trades & delivery vehicle to ingress & egress &, in particular, access for utilities such as refuse, recycling, street sweeping, communication, power & water services.
* There is an over 50's apartment block next door which would be heavily impacted by the noise & activity around a busy amenity such as this child care centre. Residents would be impacted by comings & goings all day from early morning through to the night - at least 12 hours every week day.
* Being a lane-way, there are safety issues along the whole lane with residents exiting their driveways. Many have to reverse out as it stands & so there is a serious safety issue in substantially increasing the traffic volume on a daily basis.
* Although there will be off street parking provided on the site, it is impractical to think that this will be adequate to deal with the volume of drop off & pick up activity - there will simply not be enough spaces to cope, given that these spaces will be shared with staff & services traffic. Particularly at peak times, morning & afternoon/night. Many parents/caregivers will need to, or prefer to, park at the street level, which will necessitate blocking the lane way, causing frustration & inevitable altercations & accidents.
* Safety; a key concern is the safety of children & adults. This large installation will bring many people into danger with the risk of injury, fatality & damage to property because of the congestion & high volume of traffic & noise in a confined environment.
* The corner at Pentecost is a very dangerous traffic spot for turning vehicles in & out of the lane. Many vehicles currently run a gauntlet getting in & out of the intersection. Charlton is not much better. So the volume of traffic generated by this proposal will inevitably be the cause of harm to life & property. Please note that there is a blind spot with a crest in the road as well as another blind spot in turning into Merrivale Lane from Bukra.
* We suggest that this is an inappropriate position for a child care centre in any event & we sincerely hope that our councillors take this into account. It is well known that, once the child care centre is developed, the operators will be able to apply for more spaces, increasing the capacity to more than the proposed 150. This would magnify the issue manifold.
Please do not approve this DA under any circumstances. We ask that each councillor refer to their stance when asking to represent their constituents. We are not against child care centres, but this sets a precedent in installing such an intrusive installation right in the heart of a residential environment, which is nevertheless inappropriate for such an amenity.
Thank you

I would like to echo all of the valid objections and comments made above in relation to the DA application for a massive child care business in Merivale Lane....... it is absolutely absurd that this application be given any serious consideration!

As a resident living in Buckra Street and driving down Merrivale Lane on a daily basis, I strongly support the previous comments. There are many near accidents in this Lane because the road is too narrow and tricky for a car to pass through when there are cars parked on both sides of the road. This is a quiet residential area and the increase in traffic would change the whole atmosphere of the neighbourhood. Please do not approve this application, there is no need for another child care facility in the area as there is one only a couple of minutes up the road.

I write in support of the above objections to the proposed DA for a child care centre in Merrivale Lane. As a long term resident of this area, I am well aware of the already dangerous intersection of Merrivale Lane with Pentecost Ave. The inevitable increase in traffic at this intersection, as well as at Charlton St and Pentecost Ave will make these blind spots even more dangerous. As for the lane, itself, there is simply not enough room to accommodate the volume of traffic which would result from a day care centre of this size, not to mention the large number of parents and young children who would have no choice but to share the road in the absence of proper footpaths.

There are a number of child care centres in the area and if these do not meet the current demand, it makes far more sense to allow existing centres to expand their numbers than build a completely outsized centre in a lane which is completely unequipped to cope.

I strongly object to DAO413/15 121 to117 Merrivale Lane Childcare/Preschool. I live 2 houses away from this proposed COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT in a narrow Residential lane. How can this be? The noise from 150 children screaming, crying, yelling, bells ringing, 100's of cars in and out, doors slamming 7am to 7pm will be horrific and we won't be able to go outside. Why should my rights to live quietly be trampled on by someone operating a business for huge profits? This building will be huge with classrooms, nappy rooms, bin rooms and a car park for 38 cars. It is a most inappropriate Commercial operation for this situation.

Jennifer Young

3/125 Merrivale Lane.

Turramurra.

It is disappointing that the Ku-Ring-Gai Council is prepared to let narrow commercial interests affect the amenity and wellbeing of Merrivale Lane's inhabitants.

I grew up in Merrivale Lane with my three siblings. As children, we played front yard cricket, front yard tag, and front yard soccer with our neighbours - always safe in the knowledge that cars would not be tearing up and down the street. We knew our neighbours personally, and there was a real sense of community that I was extremely glad to be a part of. I am certain that the installation of a 150-place child care centre would destroy the neighbourly spirit that was such an important part of my childhood, and leave no prospect for future generations of children in Merrivale Lane to grow up around the same tranquil surroundings that I did.

I have two principal concerns about the RMEGA Child Care Centre. The first is safety, and the second is destruction of ammenities.

Turning first to safety, Merrivale Lane is narrow, and already becoming overpopulated with cars parked on both sides of the street. This is particularly dangerous for cars turning off from Pentecost Avenue (a busy road leading on to Merrivale Lane) where cars often turn only to find themselves needing to break abruptly in order to prevent rear-ending a parked car at the beginning of the lane, totally hidden from view. This particular safety hazard, even though dangerous in the first instance, is likely to become even more so when there is increased congestion on Merrivale Lane, brought about by the Child Centre.

Turning now to amenities. I have two concerns in this respect:

First, the noise pollution will be intolerable. 150 young children screaming and playing throughout the day can hardly be considered reasonable in a lane environment. It is also completely incongruous with the retirement centre that is only a few doors down. Many residents on Merrivale Lane either don't work during the day, or are retired, and as such, are entitled to a level of external noise that is reasonable for a suburban lane. I put it to the council that it is wholly unreasonable to expect Merrivale Lane's residents to withstand an extra 150 voices. Additionally, the bustle of traffic, cars screaming past all the time on the street is only likely to add to the din.

Second, many houses in Merrivale Lane enjoy a beautiful view over Pymble golf course. a tall building and multi-storey carpark in the vicinity will destroy that particular amenity for many inhabitants.

On a final note, I wish to add that my grandmother resides in Merrivale Lane, in a separate home to my family home. She has recently spent months in hospital. Whilst recovering, she remains frail and in need of regular care and treatment. Her home would be exactly opposite the new complex. The congestion will affect her welfare, her access to help, and her confidence in leaving her drawing room to spend time outdoors.

This is a nice street with good people. We are not cranks - and these complaints are not frivolous. We care about the communities that have been created in Merrivale Lane, which often pass back over generations. We do not want an impersonal corporate enterprise polluting the fair shades of Merrivale Lane, and I hope that the Council will take the resident's unanimous displeasure seriously.

I am advised that only 26 staff will be monitoring 150 children. I have a friend working in this industry and she has advised they are required to have 12 staff for 36 children i.e. 1 staff for 3 children. The proposed development appears to be 1 staff per 6 children. I suspect that ancillary staff have not been noted in the application
There is parking proposed for 20 staff in the underground car park of 38 spaces. At least 6 staff will be parking in the LANE and obviously they will park as close to the centre as possible. Merrivale Lane is a narrow thoroughfare only 3 car widths wide. At best 2 cars can pass each other when a third car is legally parked. With parked cars on both sides of the road, as is currently allowed, traffic will be reduced to a single lane - a nightmare for both residents and parents dropping off children. Exiting from a resident's driveway will be restricted by parked vehicles on either side of the LANE.

MERRIVALE LANE WILL NOT COPE WITH THIS VOLUME OF TRAFFIC!!

Travelling North, access to Merrivale Lane from Pentecoste Avenue is a blind right turn to oncoming traffic. In the afternoon the western sun causes even more vision problems. There have been many accidents at this location over the years I have been a resident of the area.
With a number of other childcare centres in the immediate vicinity, I do not believe this location is the correct place for a childcare centre of this magnitude.

PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS APPLICATION!!!

Having read many of the comments about development proposal DAO413/15 I must say I agree completely with many of the objections. Merrivale Lane will be unable to copy with the additional traffic and much of the wildlife in this peaceful area will be impacted.

I frequently walk our dogs around the Turramurra/Pymble area and there are at least three other child care centres being built or updated in very close proximity to this proposed child care centre.

I am not against child care centres in residential areas however I feel the appropriateness of the surrounding area should be taken into consideration. I do not feel that a quiet residential street (such as Merrivale Lane) is an appropriate place to build a new 150 place child care centre.

I think many people have already raised objections on basis that this is a development on a scale totally unsuitable for Merrivale Lane and also for the number of children, way above most in the area. I concur with their objections.
I further object as it will cause traffic problems in Merrivale Lane but also surrounding streets. I live in Buckra Street and already we seem to have become a peak hour by pass as particularly in the late afternoon motorists get off Pentecost Ave which often is blocked back from the Bobbin Head Rd lights to Merrivale lane/Rd intersection.
All the streets around us are not suitable for increased traffic volumes, Princes Street particularly at the shops is so bad that you must give way to any on coming vehicles. Adams and Murdock Streets with cars parked also are not suitable for a lot of traffic. Buckra Street where I live is OK with out parked cars but most of Buckra Street is not suitable for any increase traffic volumes. I think the garbage truck driver deserves an award for getting around this area.
This development will bring a volume of traffic not suitable for the area. The intersecrtion of Merrivale lane with Pentecost Ave is dangeroud now.
By its very planned size, 150 children, they must be coming from outside the area. Rezoning Merrivale Lane as commercial is very wrong by Council, it is setting a very bad presedent and we will have developers very excited about what next they can do to ruin leafy Ku Ring Gai.
A commercial development in Merrivale lane is very wrong.

I strongly support all the previous comments re the DA for a childcare facility in Merrivale Lane.We have lived in Buckra St. for 10 years and the proposed facility is totally inappropriate in this quiet residential area.I avoid driving down Merrivale Lane now because of the narrow road and the dangerous corner at Pentecost Avenue. Merrivale Lane, Buckra Street, and surrounding streets will be severely impacted with increased traffic volume.

Whilst I no longer live on Merrivale Lane, I am strongly against the proposed development. Three generations of my family have enjoyed (and continue to enjoy) the beautiful views and the peace and quiet that are characteristic of our residential lane. I was fortunate enough to spend 11 glorious years of my childhood there and I could not have asked for a better environment for my up bringing. The quiet nature of our road encouraged children to be active and be outdoors - something that all councils should embrace with such high numbers of obese and overweight children. We could play cricket in the street, football in the front garden and there were never any concerns about oncoming traffic if we did have to fetch the odd ball off the road. The new development will potentially bring 150 new cars to our lane, which will only lead to increased risk and inconvenience for the existing families.

Many members of the community have raised the issue around the safety and suitability of the roads and footpaths, but I cannot reiterate enough the dangers of the corner of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Avenue. Over the years, we have seen many near misses, and sadly, some very serious accidents around this corner. Both drivers and pedestrians are vulnerable, and encouraging more people to this area is only adding to problem.

I hope the council listens to its community and I hope common sense will prevail. Merrivale Lane has been an idyllic, safe haven for young and old alike. I truly could not have asked for a better place to grow up and I hope many more generations will be fortunate enough to share the same sentiment.

I am a frequent visitor to my wife's sister who resides in 125 Merrivale Lane.
We come through St Ives and enter and leave Merrivale Lane by Pentecost Ave.
There is a left-hand bend in Pentecost Ave and traffic coming from Bobbin Head Rd end approach quickly on the down hill grade and extreme care is necessary.
I am concerned that, in view of the number of vehicles which will be using Merrivale Lane to access the proposed child care centre, there is an extreme risk of accident at this corner.
Furthermore, in the past 9 years we have been visiting the area, there are two boats parked in Merrivale Lane and I am sure that have not moved in all this time. The one on the left leaving Merrivale Lane is barely visible in the evening.
If any boats or vehicles are parked in Merrivale Lane and another car is approaching when we are in the section of the Lane between Pentecost Ave and the say 125, one of us must stop and pull over to the side. Another feature we have noticed is that there are no footpaths in the first section of the Lane and pedestrians and children are often on the road.
In my opinion, the increase in traffic which will be using this section of the Lane, at least twice per day, must result in problems and possibly accidents.

Dear Ku-ring-gai Council,

I strongly object to the proposed development of a 150 place Child Care Centre (DA0413/15) in Merrivale Lane for all the reasons my neighbours have outlined in the previous letters. We have lived in Charlton Avenue for the past 7 years and the repercussions for our street if the proposal goes ahead will completely change the nature and character of our neighbourhood!
Building another Child Care facility in our area, especially one so huge, is totally unnecessary. The typical operating hours for centre-based “long day care” child centres are from 7am to 6pm on weekdays, even longer for some centres, and on weekends too, 48 weeks a year!
The car parking solutions for the proposed development are clearly inadequate to accommodate the comings and goings of the parents and carers of 150 children, plus upwards of 30 to 40 staff and support staff, and will severely compromise amenities and the original density advantages of living in an R2 designated Low Density Residential area!
We deliberately chose to live in a Low Density Residential area for good reason, because we wanted our 4 children to grow up in a safe and quiet environment.
The inevitable massive increase in the volume of traffic travelling at speed down our street, particularly at peak pick up and drop off times, is of huge concern for me on a personal level, as our youngest son has autism. Our property is open to the road at the front, in keeping with the character of the street, and I am really afraid for the safety of my son with the increased number of cars rushing past our driveway to pick up their children. One of his greatest pleasures is to walk his dogs to the local park after school every day with me, and because there are no footpaths we have to walk on the road! We also have a steep driveway and a blind spot to the south of Charlton Avenue, which could be potentially dangerous for us reversing out of our driveway if cars come round the corner too quickly.
Please do not allow this development to go ahead and change our wonderful neighbourhood! It is completely the wrong location for a child care centre!

DA 0413/15.
I have been a resident of Merrivale Lane for 30 years and am alarmed at the possibility of serious consequences relating to safety issues should this application for a Commercial, 150 place Child Care Centre proceed.
A serious accident occurred some time ago at the intersection of Merrivale Lane and Pentecost Ave whereby a car collided with a pedestrian resulting in permanent brain damage to the pedestrian. Local residents are aware of the restricted sight line for vehicles entering Merrivale Lane in an easterly direction from Pentecost Ave and the need for extreme caution. Customers of the 150 place Child Care Centre, should Council approve the application, may not be aware of this danger and I am alarmed at the prospect of injury or death to children or parents as a consequence of this.
A recent house fire in Merrivale Lane required seven fire trucks to control the blaze. The current level of resident street parking allowed the trucks access and the blaze was brought under control and no one was injured. In many such fires in a residential street, adjoining houses often need to be evacuated. In a Commercial Child Care Centre of 150 children, evacuating 40 children under 2 years, and 110 children 2 to 6 years would require extremely large numbers of parents/staff and vehicles. Combine these numbers with the need for access for a number of Emergency Vehicles and it is clear that there is the potential for disaster.
The Bush Fire Map indicates that on the eastern side of Merrivale Lane, both ends of Merrivale Lane are designated as being in a Red Zone. This indicated that the authorities are aware of the potential for a bush fire in the native bushland at the rear of Merrivale Lane. In the event of such a fire and as already noted above, there may be the need to evacuate 150 under 6 year olds, as well as the residents of the Lane, some of whom are elderly, resulting in extraordinary congestion in the Lane.
We urge the Council, as the approving authority, to consider that the safety of the children may not be assured.
Given the safety issues outlined above, a large, Commercial Child Care Centre catering for 150 children is not appropriate. We trust that the staff and Councillors of Ku-ring-gai Council, after due consideration, will agree that because of the potential danger to children, parents, staff and residents, this Development Application should not proceed.
Sincerely, Judith Fry

Need for a Child Care Centre in this location.

There are alleged to be 12 or more Child Care Centres within about 2 kms of Merrivale Lane. The total capacity of these Centres is unknown, but it seems likely that it is more than adequate for the very young children of THIS neighbourhood. That being so, the capture area of the proposed Centre is likely to be more distant. Logically it should be built where the demand is, not on a lane which has a significant driving hazard at its junction with Pentecost Avenue.

Future of the Proposed Child Care Centre

The proposed building, together with its 38 car parking spaces, is of a significant capacity and particular design. This is not a local neighbourhood venture using basic facilities and largely volunteer staff. It is a large commercial business with no altruistic motives and it is debatable whether it could prove to be a commercial success. Whilst that is entirely a problem for the developer we are concerned at what might follow on in that location if the project fails. Once built it is unlikely that any owner of the property will wish to demolish it and reinstate ordinary housing.

Dropping off and collecting children.

The dropping off process will involve a considerable number of vehicles parking in Merrivale Lane for far more than the few seconds it usually takes to drop off Primary School students who can quickly disembark from a vehicle and walk into school on their own. In most cases the parent will have to park, take the child into the Centre and discuss any dietary or health issues with a staff member before returning to drive away. Collection will involve a similar lengthy process.

Driving routes to and from the Centre

The Traffic and Parking Assessment by VARGA does not go far enough in its research and concentrates only on Merrivale Lane, the east end of Buckra Street and Pentecost Avenue.

In the morning peak period traveling from the east it is difficult to turn from Pentecost Avenue into Merrivale Lane due to the west/east traffic flow and the partially blind corner. The safer route is from Pentecost Avenue into Charlton Avenue, thence Buckra Street and Merrivale Lane and reverse. The evening peak period is less difficult.

In both the morning and evening peak periods there is a "rat run" from Bobbin Head Road via Bannockburn, Murdoch and Adams Avenue and reverse. The local bus service also uses this route at a frequency of about 20 minutes. This traffic will conflict with any large volume of traffic turning right from Charlton Avenue to the eastern end of Buckra Street. Perhaps the local police force could examine the issue and offer advice?

We live on the Charlton Avenue/ Buckra Street junction so have a personal interest in this route and the increase in traffic generated by the proposed Centre.

I do not support this development as Merrivale Lane is not a suitable road on which to build the proposed childcare centre. Access would be extremely difficult on this narrow laneway esp in the morning and afternoons.

Objection to the DA0413/15 - 150 children Child Care Centre on Merrivale Lane.

We raise a number of concerns to our councillors in objection to this application.

1. Merrivale Lane is a fairly narrow "street" (called a Lane for a reason). Having a facility for 150 children is massive and will result in circa 150 parent vehicles plus staff vehicles driving along this lane twice daily with early morning & mid-late afternoon concentrations. This "street" is far too narrow to cope with this added traffic & parking and will result in very serious safety risk to children, their parents/carers, and the residents of Merrivale lane & close by streets who use Merrivale Lane. It also has no pedestrian pathway on either side of the road because of the narrowness of the space. Consequently there are issues regarding parking on the street for, trades & delivery vehicle to ingress & egress &, in particular, access for utilities such as refuse, recycling, street sweeping, communication, power & water services.

2. We note there will be off street parking provided on the site, however this is far insufficient for the staff numbers plus the number of parent drop-offs/pick-ups. People are lazy by nature so many will park on the street for their drop-offs/pick-ups. The narrowness of the "street" means vehicles parking even temporarily on both sides leaves almost no room for other vehicles using the street, and children will exit their parents vehicles and cross the street coming out from between cars with virtually no visibility. Add to this - there are 3 boats parked in the "street", many residents use gardening firms for their gardening so regularly there are these vehicles also parked often early. And some resident vehicles are parked during the day but particularly overnight meaning also early morning & late afternoon when the "street" would be in high use by parents/carers & staff of this business.

3. So - "Safety" is one of our key concerns - clearly as mentioned above primarily for children who's parents choose to park on the street. But there is also the entry & exit from the proposed underground carpark for those who use the drop-off parks - having to re-enter the "street" almost impossibly if vehicles are parked on the street risking accident & injury in the process of just trying to exit (then a couple of times they have this difficulty will drive them to park on the street as "easier" exacerbating the risk to children crossing coming out from between vehicles).

4. Merrivale Lane & surrounding/nearby streets is purely residential and really should stay that way. The infrastructure is not there for a facility on this massive scale. The quiet enjoyment of residents who have invested high $ to live in this amazing, relatively quiet area, may result in loss of this quiet enjoyment and risk loss of value if the street becomes less attractive for future residents.

Overall we suggest that this is an inappropriate position for a child care centre in any event & we sincerely hope that our councillors take this into account. It is well known that, once the child care centre is developed, the operators will be able to apply for more spaces, increasing the capacity to more than the proposed 150. This would magnify the issue manifold.

Please do not approve this DA under any circumstances, even with reduced numbers of spaces. The risks noted by us & the many other objections are so significant that any form of common sense by Council should prevail.

Thankyou
Lindsay & Frances Forrest

I agree with all the comments that have been made regarding the development application for Merrivale Lane.
I live at 92 Merrivale Lane , to reverse out of our drive it can be very difficult if there is a car parked opposite, there is also the safety risk as you cannot see oncoming traffic until you have reached the road.
Merrivale Lane does not have footpaths and there would be a safety issue for children walking along this Lane.
Parking would be impossible even if there were underground parking, this would not be sufficient for this development when you take into account staff, parents etc.
Service to the Lane would find it impossible if cars were parked on both sides of the street.
Emergency vechiles would not be able to pass if there were cars parked on both sides of the street.
If this development is put forward mainly to obtain the clearance for underground parking this could open many further issues.
This Lane is not designed for heavy traffic, it is a Lane

Dear Mayor Szatow,

Thank you for the special bulletin. I strongly support the position of the council and will be active in opposing the proposed amalgamation with Hornsby council.

I trust the fight to protect Ku-ring-gai from rampant development is heartfelt and will continue to be applied to current development applications. In particular the preposterous proposal to develop a giant child care centre for 150 children in a small low density lane such as Merrivale Lane. The increase in traffic flow from such a large commercial enterprise in the middle of a quiet residential area will result in a material loss of amenity to the current residents. Many residents are required to walk on the roads due to a lack of footpaths. Traffic movements for parents, staff and supplier/contractors to this commercial enterprise will significantly increase the risk to the safety of residents. I ask that you support the many current residents in opposing this development application.

Yours Sincerely,

David Burns
17 Charlton Avenue
Turramurra

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Ku-ring-gai at the crossroads - Your help is needed!

As Mayor I am writing to tell you that our Council is facing the biggest challenge of our 109 year old history. Last week the Baird Government announced that over 70% of Sydney councils are considered ‘unfit’ and should merge.

Ku-ring-gai has been recommended to merge with Hornsby Council.

What you can do to help our cause

If you care about Ku-ring-gai – and want our Council to stand alone without merging – please contact your local state MP to express your view by 18 November.

These local members represent the Baird Government in Ku-ring-gai and must respond to your concerns.

Click on the below links now to send a suggested email and voice your concerns.

• Email Alister Henskens - Member for Ku-ring-gai
• Email Jonathan O’Dea - Member for Davidson

Why merging with Hornsby Council is not in your interests

If we merge with Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai ratepayers face:

Paying between 5% and 17% more in rates. Hornsby’s land values are lower than ours and in a merged council, ratepayers with higher land values pay higher rates.
Having less say in how rates are spent in our area. Hornsby has a larger population and will have more Councillors in a merger.
Reduced service levels associated with serving a population projected to be 350,000, instead of Ku-ring-gai’s current 120,000 people.
Our council decided on 27 October that it will maintain its position to stand alone

We are doing this because:

Over 70% of our residents who responded to a survey between April and June said they did not want to merge with Hornsby.
Ku-ring-gai has been rated by the NSW Government’s own finance department (TCorp) as one of the 16 strongest councils out of 152 in NSW. There is no financial reason for us to merge.
Ku-ring-gai won the most prestigious award for local government in 2014 – the Bluett Award – for the quality of its services and assets.
There is little objective evidence that merged councils are more efficient or cost effective.
The Baird government has given us a deadline of 18 November to submit a merger proposal.

Our response will be that our position has not changed and we should stand alone based on the reasons above.

With your help we still have a chance for Ku-ring-gai Council to survive

Without it we will lose this fight. Please write to your local MP now!

Stay up to date on this important issue on Council's Fit For the Future website. You can also stay informed on our position by following me on Facebook.

Yours sincerely,
Mayor Cheryl Szatow

P: 9424 0709
E: mayor@kmc.nsw.gov.au

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Dear Mayor Szatow,

Thank you for the special bulletin. I strongly support the position of the council and will be active in opposing the proposed amalgamation with Hornsby council.

I trust the fight to protect Ku-ring-gai from rampant development is heartfelt and will continue to be applied to current development applications. In particular the preposterous proposal to develop a giant child care centre for 150 children in a small low density lane such as Merrivale Lane. The increase in traffic flow from such a large commercial enterprise in the middle of a quiet residential area will result in a material loss of amenity to the current residents. Many residents are required to walk on the roads due to a lack of footpaths. Traffic movements for parents, staff and supplier/contractors to this commercial enterprise will significantly increase the risk to the safety of residents. I ask that you support the many current residents in opposing this development application.

Yours Sincerely,

David Burns
17 Charlton Avenue
Turramurra

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Ku-ring-gai at the crossroads - Your help is needed!

As Mayor I am writing to tell you that our Council is facing the biggest challenge of our 109 year old history. Last week the Baird Government announced that over 70% of Sydney councils are considered ‘unfit’ and should merge.

Ku-ring-gai has been recommended to merge with Hornsby Council.

What you can do to help our cause

If you care about Ku-ring-gai – and want our Council to stand alone without merging – please contact your local state MP to express your view by 18 November.

These local members represent the Baird Government in Ku-ring-gai and must respond to your concerns.

Click on the below links now to send a suggested email and voice your concerns.

• Email Alister Henskens - Member for Ku-ring-gai
• Email Jonathan O’Dea - Member for Davidson

Why merging with Hornsby Council is not in your interests

If we merge with Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai ratepayers face:

Paying between 5% and 17% more in rates. Hornsby’s land values are lower than ours and in a merged council, ratepayers with higher land values pay higher rates.
Having less say in how rates are spent in our area. Hornsby has a larger population and will have more Councillors in a merger.
Reduced service levels associated with serving a population projected to be 350,000, instead of Ku-ring-gai’s current 120,000 people.
Our council decided on 27 October that it will maintain its position to stand alone

We are doing this because:

Over 70% of our residents who responded to a survey between April and June said they did not want to merge with Hornsby.
Ku-ring-gai has been rated by the NSW Government’s own finance department (TCorp) as one of the 16 strongest councils out of 152 in NSW. There is no financial reason for us to merge.
Ku-ring-gai won the most prestigious award for local government in 2014 – the Bluett Award – for the quality of its services and assets.
There is little objective evidence that merged councils are more efficient or cost effective.
The Baird government has given us a deadline of 18 November to submit a merger proposal.

Our response will be that our position has not changed and we should stand alone based on the reasons above.

With your help we still have a chance for Ku-ring-gai Council to survive

Without it we will lose this fight. Please write to your local MP now!

Stay up to date on this important issue on Council's Fit For the Future website. You can also stay informed on our position by following me on Facebook.

Yours sincerely,
Mayor Cheryl Szatow

P: 9424 0709
E: mayor@kmc.nsw.gov.au

Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe

www.kmc.nsw.gov.au

I am 83 years old and have lived in Merrivale Lane for more than 41 years. I strongly oppose the development application for the 150 place child care centre which is directly opposite my home. I fear that this large scale commercial child care centre will really have a very negative effect on me. All my living areas are at the front of my house and I will find the noise from the centre and the additional traffic intrusive and very distressing. I am too old to move house.

Living alone, I make a lot of use of my front verandah, which is an important way for me to stay in touch with my neighbourhood and the outside world generally. This simple pleasure will be spoiled by the commotion likely to emanate from this huge child care centre. Even if I stay inside, my lounge, kitchen, dining room and bedroom will all be permeated by the noise. As the days are long, I do treat myself to a lie-in now and again, but if the childcare centre opens for business, the onslaught of traffic at 7.00am will put a stop to that. There is no doubt in my mind that my health will suffer and I will experience greatly heightened levels of stress and discomfort.

The lane is very narrow and extra traffic will cause a real hazard. Another issue will be increased numbers of parked cars in the lane. As the verges are mostly quite high, and like my own, made from sandstone, cars cannot be parked close to the side of the road if passengers need to get out. I really worry that cars will be parked in a dangerous way (ie a long way out from the kerb) I use a walker and often rely on friends and carers to collect me. The added traffic and parked cars will make it very dangerous for me to get out of my home.

I also worry about the extra ancillary traffic - deliveries and garbage collection for example. This, along with the inevitable lines of parked cars, will add to the traffic chaos and make it difficult to get in and out of my driveway. If this goes ahead, I really am looking at the frightening prospect of being housebound.

Any development is noisy and disruptive during the building phase, but the sheer size and scale of this one will prolong the agony for far longer than would be normal.

Please do not approve this development.

This dreadful application is a problem because it immediately affects only the people in Merrivale Lane and the streets leading to it. the voices of objectors will only be the locals. But if approved this DA would set the precedent for all child care center aplications. It is the most residential location imaginable with the most limited access.... such a quiet street.

That is why we bought there i.e. it is not really a through street or a commuter "rat run". There is no supporting public transport...no buses to the street...no trains.

It would generate 150 parent plus 40+ staff and service cars times four traffic movements per day. We are at home only around 5.00 pm in the evening and leave around 8.30am. We do some gardening or just sit and enjoy the evenings, have dinner, sleep enjoy the mornings and go to work. This development would mean four of our hours at home each day will be accompanied by the noise and conjestion of the extra 700 traffic movements per day ( which will be in the peak morning and evening at home enjoyment hours of residents) generated by this development.

600 door openings and 600 door closures. 600 conversations about kids getting out of
and into cars. At the peak my estimation is 5 cars a minute will arrive and five will leave and ten will be parked while the parent delivers the child into the centre. Cars will try
and compete with residents for a hundred metres or more each side of the street. This is a two million plus dollar p.a. turnover business and belongs in a town centre not in a narrow residential street.

Councillors, please do not approve any child care centre on this compromised site.

Please do not put the monetary profit motives of one individual ahead of the interests of the residents of the street.

If this is approved my neighbours and Marylou and I will lodge a similar application and expect it to be approved so we can get the value of our land back and go live somewhere residential again.

I strongly object to DAO413/15 121 to117 Merrivale Lane for the following reasons:

1. This is setting a very dangerous and disturbing precedent to establish a very large commercial child care centre in a quiet, narrow, residential laneway. NOWHERE will be safe in any residential area of Ku-Ring-Gai from future such commercial developments if this gets approved.

2. This is not an insignificant development, this is a major commercial development … a MEGA child care centre in anyone’s terms: 150 children, minimum of 26 staff (double that at changeover), over 4000m2 of land … 65% bigger than any of the 22 other current centres Montessori Academy have across the Sydney basin, 50% bigger than any other centre in the Turramurra/Pymble area … 100% bigger than limits imposed by control plans established by other councils across Sydney in relation to CCCs in residential areas.

3. Approving this proposal will place the safety of the children, parents and residents at direct and significant risk during the high volume, concentrated pick up and drop off times in the narrow lane throughout the year. If cars are parked either side of the street it is difficult for a car to get through now.

To increase the risk, the curbs are built up on both sides of the lane outside the proposed development so you cannot get your children out on the passenger side. They will either have to park out from the curb, stopping traffic, or get their children out in the middle of the lane. Someone will get killed!

If emergency vehicles were trying to get through (and I’ve seen two fires in the street) it would be unthinkable as to the consequences.

In addition, the corner of Pentecost Ave and Merrivale Lane is extremely dangerous. I have had a car ram into the back of me while waiting to turn into the lane. It is very difficult to see cars and cyclists when turning left into Pentecost from the lane. Increasing traffic volumes will increase the risk of accidents, injury and fatalities, particularly for cyclists.

This DA is ludicrous and MUST be stopped!

I object to this development. The site has a covenant which limits development to private dwelling only. The current owner was aware of this at the time of purchase. All homes on the low side of the lane have this covenant.
The lane is narrow and intersects at Pentecost in a dangerous intersection.
The site is only a few houses away from a bush fire hazard zone on BOTH sides. Evacuation would be difficult given there is only one entrance and one exit to this long lane.
The noise level would be excessive.

Dear Councillors and residents,

As a resident of Merrivale Lane for now over 10 years i make the following submission;

1. A child care centre is appropriate, all the other centres are full to the brim and the children will enjoy the beautiful vistas of the pymble golf club;

2. The street can easily handle the traffic and noise - there already unit blocks on the street towards buckra street where development is going to be

3. The area needs to get out of 1952 and move on with the times

4. The re zoning of the land will add value to all properties located around it

5. This is sensible long term state significant planning.

6. I fully support it

Resident and owner
Merrivale lane Turramrra

I strongly object to DAO413/15 121 to 117 Merrivale Lane and have submitted similar objections as these listed on this site to council.

I have been an owner & resident in Buckra Street for the past 19 years and strongly believe that the proposed development for for a child care centre is completely inappropriate for Merrivale Lane and the surrounding road infrastructure.

Buckra Street and Merrivale Lane are ill equipped to handle the additional traffic and the inadequate design of the underground 'drop off' area together with the placement of the entry/exit roadway, will only increase the traffic congestion and driver frustration. The 'drop off' area has presumably been included to counter the traffic/parking argument but does not facilitate smooth flowing continuous traffic and is no more than standard parking bays called a 'drop off' area.

In my opinion, this is a reckless development and we urge council to reject the application.

Mayor Szatow and her fellow councillors have this opportunity to prove to the residents of Ku-ring-gai why it is better to remain independent, not merge with Hornsby, and be in charge of our own destiny by having a local council that understands and works for the benefit of its community by rejecting this DA.

I strongly object to DA0413/15!!

As a resident of Merrivale Lane and rates and taxes payer, this is not a residential dwelling application as per the Covenant on these sites! This is a commercial development, a business being proposed in a quiet narrow LANE that struggles already with boats and cars parked in the street. Add 26 staff, 150 children and their parents, this lane is not safe enough to accommodate these numbers!! The site backs onto bushlands and a creek and should emergency services be required they will physically not be able to attend the site! Please note there are already 12 child care centres within a 2km radius of this site, all of a reasonable size (30-40children) servicing our community!

Council please look long and hard at this application as this site is totally inappropriate for a development of this size and nature!

This DA should not be approved. Merrivale Lane is only about 7m wide and struggles to handle 2 way traffic along its entire length at present. To allow this DA would add approx. 150-200 (or more) extra vehicles on Merrivale Lane at peak times. Not only would this create an horrendous traffic situation along Merrivale Lane but the resulting backlog of cars could spread onto Pentecost Avenue causing traffic issues in both directions between Mona Vale Road and Bobbin Head Road.

Merrivale Lane is a quiet residential lane and should remain so.

Strongly Objecting to DA0413/15
I am taking this moment to write to you as a parent, a mother and most importantly for giving a voice to our children in this neighbourhood to express my concerns about the safety and security of our neighbourhood should you allow this development of 150 childcare centre to go ahead in a small, narrow Merrivale Lane in Turranurra. As you all can appreciate, our children’s safety and security should be paramount. Imagine, how we all would feel should a child was injured from the busy traffic when parents picking and dropping off their kids, when this could have been avoided in the first place. We and you are all decent, rationale people who has the best interest for this community. I like to think that all those who sent their objections like I’m doing now is to fight for the best interest for our community and most of all for the safety and security of our future generation.
Please do not let the development to proceed.

I strongly object to the approval of DA0413/15

As a current resident who has spent my childhood growing up on the street, I am greatly disappointed that a proposal like this could even be considered for such an environment.

Not only is the street full of families with children who often ride their bikes or play on the street, but the location itself does not in any way make sense for such a COMMERCIAL SIZED PROPOSAL. The street itself would not be able to cope with the increased traffic from cars during peak hours and would ultimately turn the street into a very dangerous environment.

After reading through some of the above comments, it has come to my attention that a comment by Jonathan Thirroul a 'supposed' resident of the street makes absolutely no sense:

- I have lived on this street my entire life and have never heard of or met anyone by the name of Jonathan Thirroul

- His first point about children enjoying the beautiful view. I do not know a single child who would consider the beautiful vistas of a golf course whilst at child care. AND the fact is that the centre would back directly onto a creek, one which is riddled with funnel web spiders, and has had previous sightings of red back spiders and red belly black snakes, all of which would directly impact on the safety of the children.

- If Jonathan has lived on the street for the past ten years as he says he has, he would know completely well that the street does in no logical manner handle traffic and a quiet suburban street would in no way handle the noise of a COMMERCIAL SIZED PROPOSAL. The unit blocks (not even unit blocks) he speaks of are NOT on the street towards buckra street, but are in fact a few houses down on the same side to the proposal.

- Once again, if Jonathan had ever lived on the street he would also know that the area is NOT stuck in 1952 and is in fact with the times for a SUBURBAN FAMILY ORIENTATED STREET of the current era
- His point of adding value to properties has no legitimate claim and adding a COMMERCIAL SIZED PROPOSAL would ultimately draw people away from what families in the area seek. A SUBURBAN FAMILY ORIENTATED STREET.

Please do not let this COMMERCIAL SIZED PROPOSAL proceed

I firmly object to the approval of DA0413/15

To be concise and clear, I have been a recurrent visitor to Merrivale lane for 7 years now and continue to visit regularly as my close friend and his family are residents.
This lane is built upon the foundations of a quiet suburban neighbourhood and continues to be regarded as such.
This proposal inhibits intolerable DANGER not only to residents, but to the proposed children that would be introduced to an already congested and narrow lane on a daily basis.
Totally unsuitable to this lane and immensely impractical, this proposal has clearly been designed by an individual/group with complete ignorance and naivety.

Do not allow for this small residential lane to be completely dismantled into an intolerably busy and dangerous situation.
STOP THIS PROPOSAL NOW

Dear Ku-rin-gai Council,
We are Strongly Objecting to DA0413/15.

As the owners and long-time residents of 128 Merrivale Lane since 1997, we do not think this development makes any rational sense for a number of reasons:

This is a quiet residential "lane" which is used by many elderly and young people daily on their way to school or the shops - the vehicle traffic from parents dropping off their children and picking them up every day to will increase significantly the chances of pedestrians being injured by vehicles

There will be a significant number of cars turning from Pentecost Avenue into Merrivale Lane - this is already a dangerous intersection with accidents occurring regularly. Alternatively they will have to negotiate the blind right hand turn from Buckra Street into Merrivale Lane - another dangerous 'accident-waiting-to-happen' spot. With the low number of cars in the street now, this is fine - with 100+ likely cars dropping off and picking up children, this will create a very dangerous area - bad enough for adults, but when the attendees to the development will be small children and distracted parents, this is a recipe for disaster

This proposed development is completely out of character with a quiet residential lane - it is a commercial undertaking, in a completely residential area and the size is very large compared to any other structure in the street

In summary, we would appreciate the Council taking the legitimate safety and environmental concerns from the residents into account and rejecting this misjudged application

Dear Ku-Ring-Gai Council and Councillors,

I strongly object to DA0413/15.

The narrow Merrivale Lane is not appropriate or suitable for this huge commercial development for a 150 place child care centre, which is equivalent to a medium size school. If approved, this will set a dangerous precedent and no residential area in the council will be safe from this kind of development. This huge commercial development belongs in a commercial zone, not in a residential area like Merrivale Lane.

The development will severely and adversely impact on the safety of the residents and other users of the narrow lane particular in terms of traffic safety and access for services and emergency vehicles. Numerous negative aspects of this DA have been raised by others which I agree and need not be repeated here.

Dear Ku-Ring-Gai Council and Councillors, you have the power and authority to stop this DA. Please stop this DA.

Katrina Chou

This is a small residential laneway. Please address the nature and scale of this development being firstly out of scale to its built environment, secondly inappropriate to have a huge commercial development in a small residential lane again effecting our built environment and surrounding nature and wildlife. Thirdly, traffic issues in this small lane way - it will not cope with the traffic in such a narrow road leading to potential dangers including restricted access for emergency vehicles and danger at the junction of Pentecost avenue which is a blind corner. please dismiss this development and locate it in an appropriate commercial area that has the infrastructure to cope with 150 plus children, staff and associated traffic and clear access for emergency vehicles.

Dear Council, please deny this application. As a child growing up in this street I am worried that the lane way we live in will become a busy and dangerous road. My little sisters and I love to play in the quiet street and ride our bikes. I'm worried about the parked cars causing a danger to me and my sisters where people will not be able to see us and the danger this may cause to us. Please let our street stay a residential laneway, please don't allow it to turn into a dangerous busy roadway. Please deny this application and locate a Childcare centre in a commercial area where the traffic and parking issues will not cause any harm to me and my sisters. Thank you

Dear members of Ku-ring-gai Council,

We wish to lodge the strongest objection to the unnecessary, dangerous and ill-considered development of the proposed 150-place childcare centre at 117 Merrivale Lane. PLEASE STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT NOW!

A significant number of childcare centres already exist or are being built in Turramurra and surrounding areas. There is no dramatic growth in family-friendly housing in the immediate surrounding area, so why is there suddenly a need for a 150-place childcare facility in a quiet, residential back lane? In truth, there is no rational need.

This would not be a childcare centre for local families - it would be a facility for families from other areas, who won't be affected by the traffic volume, overcrowding, dangerous driving, noise and overall environmental impact generated by this large-scale commercial development in a narrow, residential back lane.

Approving this development would forever damage the character of Merrivale Lane and the surrounding streets, destroying a quiet, residential neighbourhood and turning it into a constantly busy and overcrowded 'funnel' into an inappropriate large-scale commercial development.

Adding 600+ additional traffic movements per day from Monday to Friday is just plain unsafe in a laneway as narrow as Merrivale Lane. It was designed to be a back lane, not the major feeder road to an inappropriately large childcare facility. This kind of traffic volume is far, far more than Merrivale Lane was ever designed or engineered to take.

Many residents already take a chance reversing out of their blind driveways, struggling to see around vehicles parked in the gutter as they endeavour to safely enter the laneway. Add a further 600+ vehicles movements each day and you can easily see a car accident occurring in the street even before the builders have finished this mega childcare centre!

For much of Merrivale Lane's length, the lack of footpaths means there is no real option for local residents but to walk on the road, dodging parked cars and other vehicles. Add another 600+ vehicle movements from Monday to Friday and safely walking down Merrivale Lane will become just a distant memory.

PLEASE stop this unnecessary development NOW before lives are put at risk and the character and amenity of a quiet, residential back lane are destroyed forever.

It's just CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY to think it a smart idea to locate a very large childcare centre in such a location. It's been badly researched and badly planned. Please knock it on the head NOW!

Thank you.

Please deny this outrageously scaled commercial development in a narrow residential laneway. This land was sold from the golf course for residential purpose. Allow our wildlife to co exist with small scale residential properties as it was intended. Our built environment is something Kuringai residents value and the reason people come to our area. Deny this application as it is absurd to create a commercial scale development along with commercial sized traffic, noise, access issues. Maintain our built environment for future generations and leave this commercial development to an area appropriate to its size and scale.