THE Darlington childcare centre proposed for 1 Amherst Avenue was approved with conditions by the development assessment panel (DAP) on May 1 despite Mundaring council unanimously opposing it in April.

South Ward councillor Luke Ellery motioned for the Metro Outer DAP (MODAP) to reject the application on bushfire risk, traffic increase, pedestrian safety and local amenity grounds.

The motion outlined that there was only one access route to the site with no emergency access provided despite three road frontages, the traffic increased by 25 per cent in peak hour movement, the accessway already exceeded 200 vehicles per hour and the character of the area would be impacted.

These were the same grounds the Mundaring council unanimously voted to support during their April meeting.

Cr Ellery’s report recommendation motion was seconded by Central Ward councillor Prapti Mehta but was lost 2-3 as MODAP presiding member Francesca Lefante, deputy presiding member Eugene Koltasz and member Tony Arias voted against it.

The DAP heard deputations from nine Darlington residents against the proposal and presentations from the developers and consultants representing the childcare development.

Conditions state the child care premises should be constructed in accordance with the approved plans and also to the required standard for the bushfire attack level 29.

The measures and actions recommended in the bushfire emergency evacuation plan shall also be implemented and thereafter complied with by the landowner(s) and the operator in perpetuity, to the satisfaction of the Shire of Mundaring.

Prior to lodgement of a building permit, the development’s plans must show an alternative option for pedestrian access to Glen Road frontage to be incorporated into the development, for the purpose of emergency evacuation from the childcare centre, to the satisfaction of the Shire of Mundaring.

A motion was also carried noting the proponents are encouraged to investigate the option of incorporating a water spray system around the perimeter of the building, to aid in fire protection.

An amending motion by Cr Ellery to have developers undertake congestion modelling prior to obtaining a building permit to the satisfaction of the Shire of Mundaring was lost 2-3 as DAP members voted against it.

Shire of Mundaring President Paige McNeil said council unanimously supported reform of the current DAP decision-making process.

“Council has expressed concerns about the limited influence local governments currently have under the DAP framework, particularly when decisions are made contrary to the recommendations of council and community feedback,” she said.

“Council is hopeful that reforms will lead to a more balanced and transparent system, one that better reflects local planning contexts and community expectations.”