THE State Administrative Tribunal has agreed to grant Serena Driscoll permission to run a childcare centre in Waverly Road, Cowaramup after a prolonged struggle.

When Ms Driscoll put up the original application, it drew concerns including noise, traffic and inadequate parking.

A petition was put up against the centre being in its proposed location, and the SAT dismissed an application against the shire’s refusal of the proposal in 2005.

However, the shire’s decision was set aside on September 19 and the centre, a modified version of the proposal considered by the SAT in 2007, was approved subject to conditions including that it be in accordance with a plan received by the shire in 2007, and a master landscape plan be prepared to the shire’s satisfaction.

It will operate with no more than 20 children at any time, only between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Fencing to reduce noise is also required, with 10 parking bays and two short stay dropoff bays to the south of the centre.

Noise emissions are not to exceed Environment Protection Noise regulations and not interfere with other premises.

“A a result of the traffic impact analysis undertaken for the Centre (the proposal), it is concluded that the addition of the traffic generated from the proposed Child Care Centre will have no significant adverse impacts on the traffic operations on Waverly Road and on the intersection of Waverly Road and Bussell Highway,” the SAT report said.

“After considering the noise potential of the car park and the children, the Tribunal finds that the noise will be acceptable.”

It found the proposal would not be “as intrusive or as unacceptable as the local residents have apprehended it to be”.