Wednesday, 1 April 2026

 Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:57): (2289) My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning. I have been contacted by families and educators from Pope Road Kindergarten in Blackburn regarding the proposed Blackburn activity centre. This is a longstanding local kindergarten, and parents understandably want to be sure that it remains a safe and appropriate environment for young children. They have raised concerns about overshadowing during the day, privacy and the potential health impacts of prolonged exposure to construction noise and dust. We are talking about 12-, 14- and 16-storey towers encircling the area. Parents are asking for the confidence that these issues are properly understood and taken into account before the decisions are finalised. My question to the minister is: what steps will the government take to ensure the impacts on the Pope Road Kindergarten are fully considered as part of the planning process?