Kwinana council rejects Anketell daycare despite developer promise to do “whatever is necessary” for approval

Kwinana councillors have knocked back plans for a childcare centre in Anketell despite the developer committing to do “whatever is necessary” to get it built.

Applicant Vestco WA lodged development plans with the City of Kwinana to build the 91-child capacity centre on Anketell Road, within the Albero estate.

Councillors voted at the November 22 meeting to reject the application, in line with city officers’ recommendation.

A report by officers said the proposal was inconsistent with the local structure plan because the site was designated to be zoned “service commercial” and childcare centres are deemed a sensitive land use and discouraged under the zoning.

The report also noted the centre would be on a key arterial road, with Anketell Road planned to be a freight route and major connector to Kwinana’s future container port.

CF Town Planning and Development director Carlo Famiano spoke at the meeting to try to persuade councillors to support the development, saying the local planning scheme listed childcare centres as a discretionary use able to be approved by council.

“We believe there is merit for a childcare centre to be on this property and within this location,” he said.

“We attended a meeting in October with city staff and we made it very clear that we’re prepared to amend the plans and do whatever is necessary to make this work and address the issues.”

Mr Famiano said he had been involved in developing childcare centres in other local government areas that were approved near busy transport corridors and they could design the buildings to mitigate noise but hadn’t been “given that opportunity to do so”.

Councillors unanimously refused the application, with Cr Barry Winmar pointing to the “level of detail” that had gone in to the officers’ recommendation and Cr Matthew Rowse saying council should use its discretion to refuse the centre.

“Once Anketell Road is completed it will be a whole different kettle of fish so we should use our discretion in this case and not allow a sensitive land use in this location,” Cr Rowse said.