For almost 30 years, living in Ruzak Street, Campbelltown was fine for Marion and Brian Meleng. But that’s no longer the case. Overdevelopment of their quiet little cul-de-sac street in recent years has forced the couple and their neighbours to say goodbye to their previously pleasant life.
Brian and Marion are definitely not the NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) type. At the same time, it’s also worth mentioning that all of the developments which have smashed their lifestyle are legal.
What’s worrying the couple even more is that worse is yet to come for Ruzak Street: a 105 place child care centre.
“It started with a group home with 10 people, across from our house,’’ says the couple.
“Then a second group home was approved next to it, for another 10 people.
“Each of these only has two carparking spots onsite, and every resident has their own bins, so you can imagine what it’s like on rubbish collection day.
“Because there’s no room, some bins end up in front of our property or other residents’ property.
“It’s just terrible,’’ Brian and Marion said.
As well as construction on the second group home, next to that a double town house development is under way as well, which does not help the flow of traffic in Ruzak Street. To the right of the town houses under construction is another similar one completed a while back.
Not surprisingly, the residents were shocked to receive a letter telling them of a proposal to put in a child care centre for 105 places in their street.
“Our little street can’t cope now, how will things be like when the centre is open and parents are dropping off and picking up their children,’’ say the couple.
Campbelltown Council accepts the concerns of the residents, to the point where it is proposing parking restrictions to enable essential services such as garbage trucks, delivery vans and safe property egress.
“Council acknowledges the concerns raised by residents in Ruzak Street,’’ says Jai Rowell, executive general manager city planning and corporate services at Campbelltown City Council.
“All development applications in this street, including the proposed childcare centre, have been assessed in line with the requirements of the relevant State and local planning controls.
“The development application for the childcare centre at 7–9 Ruzak Street has been approved in accordance with these legislative requirements.
“Our team conducted a thorough review of traffic related concerns on Ruzak Street which included site inspections and consultation with relevant internal stakeholders and community consultation.
“It was determined that the implementation of parking controls was necessary to improve road safety and ensure service accessibility,’’ Mr Rowell told the South West Voice.
But as far as the residents are concerned it is they who will live with the impact of this overdevelopment in a tiny street of just 10 houses.
On September 11 the residents received a letter from council regarding problems with the bin collection service in their street.
To alleviate the problems, in the letter the council asked residents to:
- not park vehicles in the turning circle after 6am on collection day
- Place bins out no later than 6am on the morning of collection (Tuesday)
- Ensure bins are at least half a metre apart
- Keep bins clear of obstacles, including trees, telegraph (sic) poles, electrical boxes and parked vehicles
- not block access to neighbouring properties
- Ensure bins are removed from the kerb as soon as possible after collection
Despite the objections from the residents when it was on public exhibition, the child care centre was approved by council earlier this year and informed residents by letter on April 4.
“The proposal for the child care people to exit into Ruzak Street is madness and will impact not only on the residents who will be unable to exit their driveways, but will also cause a traffic hazard as cars coming over the hill at the top of Lilian Street collide with cars exiting Ruzak Street,’’ residents warned in their submissions.