Daycare weighs into Bunnings debate

An artist's impression of the proposed Bunnings Warehouse Grey Lynn, looking west down Great North Rd with the King St corner at centre.

Kindercare and the St James Kindergarten are opposing Bunnings Warehouse Grey Lynn, raising safety and health threats to children.

This morning, independent hearing commissioners were told by Kindercare counsel Malcolm Maclean of the threat of vehicle fumes to child health if Bunnings was allowed to rise opposite the 7 King St property.

Kindercare is one of the closest and most directly affected neighbours, Maclean said, raising concerns about exhaust emissions from the 35 to 40 Bunnings trucks a day.

Yesterday, Michael Beran from the kindergarten committee raised safety concerns, pollution and noise and environmental threats, saying his daughter Olive had scootered to the kindy since she was three and was a traffic expert. He referred to child pedestrian death rates and said risks rose with more traffic.

"We have a chance to do something fantastic with this area for our kids, not a store that serves a few," Beran said.

But if Bunnings built, crossing intersections could be difficult, he said, citing 35 trucks a day, delivery vehicles and couriers. Construction noise would would affect the young children, particularly those with autism, Beran said.

The kindy had problems getting a bus to the area for field trips because the streets were so narrow and Beran asked how trucks and couriers would cope if Bunnings was built.

The kindy was 100 years old but he asked commissioners which side of history they would be on.

Nesh Pillay, owner of a King St property near the site raised concerns about construction which she said would take at least six months and she was worried where contractors would park.

The Green Group planning consultant with 13 years resource management experience said the community could face significant disruptions to parking while the Bunnings was being built.

Bunnings wants to build its store on the site of an empty clothing factory, on Great North Road, Grey Lynn:

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