Previously Investigated Sites for Langwarrin Kindergarten
In response to increasing demand, we’re upgrading kindergartens across Frankston City. This will increase the number of kindergarten places available to three and four-year-olds, ensuring every child has access to a funded program. As part of planning process council has assessed a number of sites in relation to the location of the Langwarrin Kindergarten.
In assessing the viability of a site we consider a range of factors:
- Who owns the land
- Existing infrastructure and services
- Located within the area of need for places and within a residential area
- Accessibility to the site
- Current usage of the site
- Size of the site and ability to house integrated early learning services
- Immediate surrounding environment and impact on children i.e. industrial, easements, heavy traffic and overall safety
- Impact on local community and environment
It is recognised that for all sites there is an impact on the local community. The level and type of impact varies for each site.
Once the need to increase Kindergarten capacity in Langwarrin was identified a review of 8 alternate sites was undertaken.
Locations considered and not selected.
Click the spots on the map to see site names. The reasons each site was not selected are listed below.
Sites considered and reasons not selected
Reasons not selected.
- Privately owned
- Managed under Trustee ship with a primary goal of retaining the land for public use
- Cruden farm are not looking to subdivide and are planning facilities to increase their revenue
Reasons not selected.
- Site is located within existing remnant native bushland, requires extensive clearing, Construction Environment Management Plans are required
- Legislative & planning requirements will involve Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- No existing road / pedestrian infrastructure, the site would require major works to prepare the site and make it accessible from the street
- Special Building Overlay (SBO) covers part of the site
- Existing water retardation basin present on site (south-west corner)
- No direct accessible power, electrical and water supply to the site
- Sewer easement running north-south through the site, bisecting the site impacts on developable area
- The location is outside the suburb and does not meet the kindergarten development plan, lack of access for pedestrians and cyclists may affect utilisation
Reasons not selected.
- Land privately owned, cost of acquisition is prohibitive
- Extensive vegetation removal required
- Site is in a bushfire prone area
- Extensive road, services and land infrastructure works are required on McClelland Drive and within the site itself
- A secondary access point would need to be required to avoid congestion of a shared entry to the site
- The site is not within a high density residential area and access to the site would primarily be by car and public transport
Reasons not selected.
- Road access significantly limited and would require road works
- Significant tree density on site
- Construction of an access road joining Studio Park with McClelland Gallery is not within their proposed development
- Future developments of this site are unknown. The timing does not meet kindergarten infrastructure development plan and will not meet the capacity shortage
- The site is isolated and is not suitable for an early years’ service
- Limited public transport and pedestrian access may result in an unutilised building
There are no options to have three licensed kinder rooms with the required outdoor areas on the current Langwarrin Pre-school site.
Future use of the site will be determined following Council's internal and external engagement process, and in accordance with our property strategy.
Reasons not selected.
- Site is located within existing remnant native bushland, requires extensive clearing, Construction Environment Management Plans are required
- A portion of the site is Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Significant
- Legislative & planning will involve the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) land owners
- A portion contains high-quality native vegetation and wildlife habitat that would need to be offset if nominated for removal
- The fall of the land and change of levels present challenges to make the design universally accessible
- Limited access to site services (no electricity or communications)
- Depending on the positioning of the facility this site may be isolating which poses a risk for children and staff accessing this site
Reasons not selected.
- Limited access - Pindara Boulevard is the only access to and from the site
- Located fully within the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO)
- Located within an Area of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sensitivity
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) managed crown land for the purpose of recreational use
- The limited public transport access does not meet the needs of kindergarten planning
Reasons not selected.
- Large telecom tower prominent to the park, negative perceptions about safety for children potentially resulting in low utilisation
- Would require major road network upgrade, including car parking to cater for the increased patronage to the site
- Possible creation of road congestion within local residential road networks (particularly when sporting events take place and with the reduction of car parking available for public use)
- Land owner is Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
Reasons not selected.
- Owned by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
- Presence of heritage hall and skate park would require relocation of two existing community groups, Langwarrin Men’s Shed and BMX track
- Land has a significant fall and level change to the north, the topography would require a split facility creating design difficulties for truly inclusive Early Years services
- DWELP managed crown land is for the purpose of recreational use
Reasons not selected.
- Land has a 12 metre incline from Jackson Drive to the south of the site
- Development would require the acquisition of seven (7) residential properties to fit the Early Years facility
- A portion of the site is affected by the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO)
- Land required is privately owned
As part of initial stage of community engagement residents have also suggested a number of sites, most of which are listed above. Redevelopment of the existing site or using Athol Court Reserve were also suggested, as was the potential to build a number of smaller units. Both these sites are too small to accommodate the required facilities.
Locating a range of early year services in one location is best practice in terms of support for families, and outcomes for children. Locating the facilities with a school has been considered and the local schools do not have the space. Single room kindergartens are restricted in their ability to offer children and families the number of funded hours they are eligible for – 15 hours a week for 3 year olds and, from 2025, 30 hour a week for 4 year olds.
Community engagement is open until March 26th 2023 at Engage Frankston.
https://engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/early-years-infrastructure/new-kindergarten-langwarrin
