By Benjamin Millar
The developer of a childcare centre planned for one of Melbourne’s most truck-plagued intersections is confident the project will proceed even though some conditions remain unmet.
Star Weekly last year revealed the state’s planning tribunal had approved plans for a 170-place childcare centre on the site of a petrol station at the corner of Williamstown Road and Francis Street in Yarraville.
Maribyrnong council had rejected plans for a 206-place centre on the site, submitted by prominent property developer Dean Giannarelli’s company Southern Capital Corporation. Mr Giannarelli successfully appealed the decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) with amended plans for a two-storey childcare centre with roof terrace playground.
Almost 12 months after the decision,
some conditions for the project remain outstanding.
VCAT member Michael Nelthorpe ruled that traffic impacts on adjacent Dean Street could be overcome if parking was prohibited on the street during peak hours. He included a condition that before development commenced, on-street parking on both sides of Dean Street must be prohibited.
Maribyrnong planning services director Nigel Higgins said the condition required the applicant to contact the council to find a solution and initiate the proceedings.
“Council has not received a request from the developer to address this condition and no development can commence until this condition is met,” he said.
Mr Higgins said the applicant was also yet to submit amended plans, as required by VCAT’s other condition.
Demolition and clean-up works carried out in recent weeks are allowed, but no further works are permitted until the amended
plans meet the satisfaction of Maribyrnong council.
Mr Giannarelli said he still expected to have a centre open by January, 2019.
“We are in the final throes of negotiations with operators,” he said.
“Whatever we need to do we will do. We are looking forward to opening a brilliant facility.”
The permit will expire if conditions are not met and works do not commence by November next year.
