New childcare centre gets council nod in east Warrnambool

The centre includes space for up to 124 children and 23 staff.

The proposal had eight objections, with people concerned about landscaping, traffic and car parking issues, design aesthetics and neighbourhood character.

The childcare centre, which is on the former site of Bells Garden Centre on Verdon Street, will operate between 6.30am and 6.30pm.

Public notice and referral was carried out and eight objections from residents were received by the city council.

Councillors, objectors, the applicant and council officers met on-site to discuss the proposal and the concerns of residents.

A residence at 95 Verdon Street will be demolished to allow for the new building, which will include seven child-minding rooms and a 27-space car park under the centre.

Cr Sue Cassidy said while the design looked great she questioned where staff would park.

She said she didn't want them to park on residents' lawns and said it needed to be addressed.

"Any changes will need to come back to us," she said.

Cr Peter Hulin said there was checks and balances to make sure parking was taken care of.

"We also need to look at the actual access onto the highway," he said.

"That intersection will probably need to have lights at the end of the day."

He commended the design and said it was in keeping with other properties.

"All in all for something of that size I think it's a good outcome for a block of land," he said.