Council
2 February, 2026
Planning panel approves Moss Vale childcare centre
Controversial plans for a childcare centre in Farnborough Drive, Moss Vale have been approved by the Wingecarribee Local Planning Panel.
Controversial plans for a childcare centre in Farnborough Drive, Moss Vale have been approved by the Wingecarribee Local Planning Panel.
The proposal was considered at Wednesday’s LPP meeting, with a number of people speaking against it.
Despite community opposition – including 92 written objections as part of the development application process – the LPP found the proposal was “permissible and largely compliant with the development standards and childcare guidelines”.
Conditions imposed on the application relate primarily to noise management.
As previously reported by The Southern Wire, the application from Best Kidz Management was for alterations and additions to an existing dwelling in Farnborough Close for use as a childcare centre for 80 children.
The application was referred to the LPP because it attracted 10 or more ‘unique’ submissions by way of objections and was therefore considered ‘contentious’.
Most of the objections related to traffic impacts.
However council planning staff recommended the application be approved and said in a report prepared for Wednesday’s meeting that the development would not “adversely or unduly” impact the locality and was deemed within the public interest.
“The development proposed is consistent and is acceptable under all relevant planning controls and requirements and will not result in health and safety risks beyond reasonable doubt,” the report said.
LLP chair Steven Layman made it clear from the outset that the development was permissible in the zone.
He said the proposed childcare centre wasn’t commercial and was therefore not prohibited or unlawful.
“If it was prohibited we wouldn’t be sitting here talking about it,” he said.
Tudor Estate resident Dianne Riley said the proposed childcare centre was in the wrong location and posed a “huge” safety risk to children, parents and local residents.
She also raised concerns about the impact on property values with real estate agents predicting that immediate neighbours could lose up to 10 per cent off the value of their properties.
Another Tudor Estate resident, Gilda Wilson, also described the location as inappropriate.
“We are not against childcare centres as long as the location is fit for purpose,” she told the panel.
She said if the panel approved the application it would be responsible for “permanently destroying the peaceful feel of Farnborough Drive and the entire (Tudor) estate by way of traffic congestion”.
Farnborough Drive resident Pam Hilton said there would be approximately 40 cars entering and exiting the centre every morning and afternoon.
She said cars would be forced to park on the side of the narrow street or would queue up in front of her property.
She said noise and emissions from increased traffic would be a bigger issue than noise from the children.
Sean Rusden – who lives alongside the proposed centre – said the childcare centre would wreck the ambience of his property.
“The noise would go straight over the two metre (acoustic) fence and rattle our windows,” he said
“Double glazing doesn’t work because we then can’t use the windows for ventilation.”
Mr Rusden said he and his wife had done their best to create a “beautiful” garden at a significant cost and post and rail fencing was a significant feature of the landscaping.
He said living alongside a property with a two-metre-high fence would “feel like having a prison next to you”.
Other speakers raised similar concerns relating to increased traffic (including service vehicles), noise and the safety of motorists turning into Farnborough Drive from the Illawarra Highway.
Benjamin Black from Avenue Town Planning, speaking on behalf of the proponent, said studies indicated the proposal would have “minimal” impact on traffic and the sight lines from the entry/exit were in excess of those required under Australian standards.
He said there was unlikely to be cars parking on the street as the car park would only ever be half full – even at peak times.
Mr Black said the acoustic fence would be solid - with no gaps - and would also be higher than required.
He said the proposed developed would respect the area’s character with landscaping and minimal signage.
One of the conditions imposed by the LPP will require the proponent to reposition the acoustic fencing away from the boundary where possible “to enable the retention and use of existing and proposed boundary landscaping to mitigate visual and amenity impacts on adjoining residential properties”.
Use of the centre’s outdoor play space will be limited to four hours a day – two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon – also to reduce noise impacts.
Read More: Moss Vale, Southern Highlands