CITY of Swan voted against the officer’s recommendation to advise approval of a childcare development proposal that’s been lodged directly with the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel.

Although the final decision is yet to be determined by the Development Assessment Panel (DAP), Swan councillors have advised against the childcare proposal.

Deputy mayor and Midland Guildford ward councillor Ian Johnson put forward a motion for council to advise the DAP that it does not endorse the officer recommendation to approve the development application.

“The reason for the motion is the development application proposes to remove one mature flooded gum tree which is an endemic species in the locality and also to remove a bottle tree” he said.

“This removal of trees is not aligned with the Guilford heritage area planning policy.

Cr Johnson said the traffic study done in the area also dates from 2017 which was before the increase in traffic on Swan Street East and Fauntleroy Street.

He said this was a result of the nearby St Jude’s aged care expanding and the East Guildford train station being used more.

“Perth Airport has (also) objected to the development application as the childcare centre is within the flight path and the type of activities in the childcare centre are arguably unacceptable under state planning policy 5.1,” he said.

Echo News paid a visit to Fauntleroy Street on Wednesday to meet with members of the Guildford Association and see the fenced off lot where the childcare development was proposed.

Guildford Association president Claire Scanlan, vice president Deanna Rokich, members Jude Smyth, Alison Polich and others gathered in the morning to comment on the undeveloped lot.

Guildford childcare proposal raises tree removal concerns reported the community concerns regarding the required removal of mature gums on the property as part of the childcare’s development.

In the span of 20 minutes, two aeroplanes flew over the proposed childcare site.

“That’s the Guildford pause,” Ms Rokich said.

“When a plane flies past, you have to pause the conversation until the noise passes over.

“How does anyone think this is an appropriate place to build a childcare with the amount of noise they’ll be exposed to?”

Ms Rokich also cited the traffic as another concern for residents along the street.

“Fauntleroy Street is so narrow, locals turning out of it will go on the curb to allow others space to go the opposite direction as they enter,” she said.

“And the visibility on that turn into Fauntleroy is so bad, sometimes I need to quickly get out of my car to look for traffic before running back and rushing across.

“This street is usually much busier with this entire road full of parked cars — you’ve come during the school holiday season.”

Prior to the decision, the matters were brought to the City of Swan at their most recent agenda forum meeting.

Ms Scanlan said the 67-place childcare facility would see mature trees removed and be a devastating loss and change the Fauntleroy streetscape forever.

“Prior to this approval a previous application for childcare premises on this site was refused unanimously by this council owing to a five-bay parking shortfall,” she said.

“There’s still a parking shortfall of two bays and the traffic and congestion have only worsened.

“This suggests that the City of Swan’s heritage policy for Guildford is not at all taken seriously.

“Is this lack of respect to be rewarded?”