Local Planning Policy 6.4 Child Care Premises Review

The City’s Officer undertook a comprehensive review of the existing Local Planning Policy 6.4. This included:

• Reviewing recent proposals for Child Care Premises in the City, including identifying the most common reasons for community opposition to this use
• Investigated other local government’s local planning policies regarding Child Care Centres, such as, Joondalup, Wanneroo, and Melville
• Incorporated findings from WAPC Bulletin 72 (2009) and Position Statement (2022)
• Investigated studies that indicated ‘black spots; for child care centres within the City
• Investigated findings from JDAP and SAT child care cases in the Perth metropolitan area
• Compiled findings of community concerns raised from development applications over the past five years for child care centres within the City
• Investigated customer complaints regarding traffic and noise at existing child care centres.

Changes to the current Policy are proposed following a comprehensive review of the policy. This review involved obtaining different views on where this type of development should be allowed, and what controls should apply to this form of development. 

Elected Members were invited to participate in a survey between 26 August 2022 to 2 September 2022. A summary of the feedback is as follows:

• 50% felt that the current provision of child care centres/services was adequate in the City
• 50% agreed that child care centres be allowed in residential zones
• 67% agreed that the number of children at Child Care Premises should be limited
• 67% agreed that the existing design control are adequate.

The proposed changes to the Policy include:

• Increasing the emphasis on minimising the impacts on the amenity of adjoining properties
• Increasing landscaping requirements
• Improving design requirements to mitigate noise issues, particularly if a Child Care premises abuts residential properties
• Introducing requirements for bin storage and firefighting equipment locations to be provided
• Creating a checklist of requirements for applicants to provide in their application
• Overall improvements to the objectives to deliver the policies intended outcomes.

• Online Submissions can be made via the online form.
• By post Chief Executive Officer, City of Stirling, (Amended Local Planning Policy 6.4 – Child Care Premises), 25 Cedric Street, Stirling WA 6021
• In person During business hours (8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday) at the City of Stirling Main Administration Office located at 25 Cedric Street, Stirling
• By email schemes@stirling.wa.gov.au.