Tradies has complained of not getting “a fair go” at an independent panel hearing into the club’s childcare centre proposal.
Residents, on the other hand, were happy with the reception they received, and their objections were supported by a council assessment report, which recommended the development application (DA) be refused.
Chief executive of Sutherland District Trade Union Club (Tradies), Tim McAleer, told the Leader the format of the meeting “made it impossible for the club to present its case in a fair and reasonable fashion", and its team was “interrogated” by the panel while he was heckled from the public gallery.
Mr McAleer said, if the DA was refused, the club might appeal to the Land and Environment Court.
Sutherland Shire Council’s Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel (IHAP) considered the DA for the 143-place childcare centre on Tuesday night.
A council assessment report recommended the DA be refused on several grounds, including non-compliance with building height and floor space ratio requirements, insufficient parking and potential visual and privacy impacts.
The panel’s report is expected to be published on August 3.
It will be considered by a council’s planning committee meeting on August 7, with a final decision expected at the full council meeting on August 21, where Labor councillors will abstain from voting.
Mr McAleer said he attended the IHAP meeting with the project architect, an early learning centre specialist and the traffic consultant who provided advice in the DA.
”The format of the meeting made it impossible for the club to present its case in a fair and reasonable fashion,” he said.
“Six neighbours were invited to speak and each was allowed six uninterrupted minutes to present their arguments to the committee.
“The club’s assumption was we would be offered the same courtesy.
“This was not the case.”
Mr McAleer said the club representatives were called as as group and “interrogated by the panel while noisy and disruptive comments came from the gallery whenever I spoke”.
“The panel focused on two areas they deemed significant, those being parking and traffic,” he said.
“With regards to both of these issues, the council traffic engineer agreed with the Tradies proposal, while council’s planning officer disagreed with both the council traffic engineer and Tradies’ independent traffic consultant.
“While the outcome of the meeting at this point is unclear – all parties await the recommendation of the committee – the club reserves its right to pursue its DA in another jurisdiction”.
Vanessa Dudley, a leader of the community campaign against the DA, said the meeting “went well”, with an excellent turnout of residents, who filled the meeting room.
Ms Dudley said the Tradies representatives “were all surprisingly ill-prepared and could not answer many questions posed by the panel”.
“About eight residents, including myself, spoke,” she said.
“We were very pleased with the depth of knowledge and facts presented.
“It was clear the community were very passionate in wanting to support a building that complies, meets our needs and is consistent with its surrounds.”
Ms Dudley said the majority of residents were concerned with the size and non-compliance of the building, traffic and pedestrian safety issues and lack of on-site childcare parking.
The panel had been told all non-compliance matters could be resolved by a smaller, less intrusive building with more outdoor space.
Residents had also pointed out the number of other new childcare centres that were being built in the area.
