RELATED STORY: Another try for childcare centre
COUNCIL will process a permit application for a childcare centre in Swan Hill as quickly as possible in response to the huge demand for childcare in the area.
Mayor Les McPhee said while ordinarily applications could take up to several months to process, given the situation, there was “no reason why council couldn’t get through it quicker”.
“As long as we follow due process, dot the Is and cross the Ts,” he said.
“But obviously the process extends with objections — if there’s no objections it will go through quicker.”
Neighbours have confirmed they will be objecting the application for a 40-place childcare centre on Yana St, the second submitted by Swan Hill locals Marg and Scott Hartshorn.
The Hartshorns’ first application was approved by council but then overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal last year following a legal challenge by the neighbours.
They argued that outdoor areas would create noise impacts and subsequent visual impacts from acoustic fencing — however, the Hartshorn’s are confident they have now addressed all issues identified by VCAT.
In Friday’s Guardian it was revealed there are only six educators registered with the council’s Family Day Care Scheme and all three of the day care centres have waiting lists of up to a year.
