A proposal for a kindergarten building on the western side of Oxford Street has been lodged with the council, along with a number of other works including the reseal of a basketball court and a lift at the library.

The development application also indicates a plan for seven additional car parking spaces at the new kindergarten, which will be located between the existing pavilion and tennis courts.

“The purpose of the development proposal is to provide dedicated quality learning spaces and reduce congestion on the Abbott Street site,” a report by Pitt and Sherry said.

“Currently there are students located in inappropriate learning spaces … and it is proposed to vacate these areas and recover the original intent of usage.

“There will be no net increase in learning numbers across the whole campus.”

The new kindergarten would allow for four teaching spaces as well as outdoor play equipment and landscaping.

The major concern of those opposed to the development is traffic congestion.

“As a resident of Tasma Street I find that the proposed development on Oxford Street would be detrimental to local residents due to the substantial increase in traffic this development would bring,” Marianne Watts said.

“Oxford Street is already heavily burdened with traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times.

“Any extra traffic would make Oxford Street virtually impassable at this time, preventing access by emergency vehicles and other traffic.”

Veronica Lyons, who also lives in Tasma Street, opposite Oxford Street, said she witnesses “traffic chaos” everyday.

“(It’s) caused by numerous vehicles jockeying for position in both streets, as well as through traffic coming down Tasma Street and cutting the corner as it proceeds at breakneck speed into Oxford Street,” she said.

“This proposed development is only going to markedly increase the danger to everyone as more vehicles are added to this mix.”

According to the transport impact assessment attached to the development application, an average of 300 vehicles travel along Oxford Street per day, with 45 at peak times.

At the council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee meeting on Monday the development services director Leanne Hurst answered a number of questions about the proposal.

“We are meeting with representors this week and also the applicants have been asked to respond to number of issues raised by the representors and whether those issues have been resolved.”