Raby residents are pulling out all stops to block approval of a 120 place child care centre at 19 McDonnell Street.
They have been running a strong, organised campaign ahead of the close of submissions on January 30.
Mark Baird, who lives a few houses away from the proposed centre, has been leading the charge against the child care centre.
He has enlisted the support of the local MP, Nathan Hagarty, who is backing the residents in their fight.
Mr Baird has a simple message for Campbelltown City Council, who will decide the fate of the DA: “You’re elected to represent the people, that’s what it’s about, not individuals, this is a majority of the people in the area opposed to this child care centre.’’
He says the biggest concern of the residents if the child care centre is approved is the impact on their safety.
“We’re an older area, the more people that are going to be here with the traffic flow, it’s going to restrict the access for any emergency service coming through here,’’ he says.
“Out of the 386 houses we doorknocked only 10 had children under five years old.
“And two of them have stay at home mums, and the other eight said they don’t need to use the proposed child care centre because we have enough now,’’ Mr Baird said.
“There’s three existing child care centres already operating in Raby, with two new ones under construction around here that will be opening up.
“This is an older area – we bought for the environment, the peace and tranquility – that’s what it’s about.’’
He also points out that at a meeting to discuss the DA on the weekend, out of the 120 people who turned up more than 85-90 percent would be aged 55 plus.
“But even a young couple who bought here in July don’t want it,’’ says Mr Baird.
Someone else who is convinced a child care centre would be inappropriate at the foot of the beautiful Scenic Hills of Campbelltown is the member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty.
“It’s incompatible with the area, and Mark’s spoken about the demographic in this area, this part of Raby, near the Scenic Hills,’’ he says.
“When you look there’s not much demand for child care centres in this area, and that’s why I’m backing in the locals.
“It’s obviously going to be a tough fight, but as you know I’ve had plenty of experience pushing back on inappropriate development at Liverpool, and I’m happy to lend my support and share my insights to help these people here in Raby in their fight.’’
Unfortunately for these Raby residents, the zoning of their neck of the woods allows a child care centre, with consent or conditions attached to the approval.
Mr Hagarty says zoning should be something that’s looked at by the state government.
“We passed some pretty significant reforms to planning last year, and we’re on a journey there, and I think we need to look at things like where child care centres are permitted and where they are not,’’ he tells the South West Voice.
“They’re permitted in residential areas, but in some cases not allowed in industrial or commercial areas, which is a bit silly – if you’re going to work and want to drop your kids off it’s where you park the car.
“We need a wider look at places like child care centres, group homes, and even NDIS facilities, in certain areas.
“We know we need them, we need to support kids, older people, people with disabilities, but they need to be in the right area for the right reason,’’ Mr Hagarty said.
“Right now, I’m encouraging everyone to make a submission about the child care centre here at Raby.
“Mark and the guys are doing a fantastic job, they’ve door knocked a significant part of this suburb, encouraging everyone to have their say.
“I’ve had a chat with the mayor and a couple of councillors and made my views and the views of the community clear to them.’’
Mr Baird says just one person out of 120 at the weekend meeting said they were “sitting on the fence’’.
“Everyone else is going to make a submission against it, so if council is elected to represent the people that’s what they’re there for, they’re not elected for any other purpose than to abide by what their local people want.’’