Ten childcare centres could be operating in Adelaide’s northeast
Three proposed childcare centres in Adelaide’s northeast will make 10 within a five kilometre radius, which has been slammed by an industry lobby body.
North & North East
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Three new proposed childcare centres for Adelaide’s northeast has been slammed by the Australian Childcare Alliance SA as a “massive oversaturation”.
Plans have been lodged for a two-storey centre at 67 and 69 Hamilton Rd, Fairview Park by Future Urban, and another at 548-560 Milne Rd, Redwood Park from Accord Property.
If approved, they would join an already rubber-stamped centre at 534 Milne Rd, Redwood Park.
Residents fear it would create 10 centres within a five kilometre radius in the northeast.
Already existing centres in the area are: Golden Grove’s Kozy Kids, World of Learning and an AMIGA Montessori; Tea Tree Gully’s Stepping Stone and Tea Tree Gully Childcare; and the Surrey Downs Community Children’s Centre and Kindy Patch in Redwood Park.
Mr Skrembox felt there were not enough educators in the local area to fill the positions.
“It’s a massive over saturation. The over supply is not warranted,” Mr Skrembox told The Messenger.
“Most centres have a capacity of 100 children, so you’re catering for 1000 children under five years old.
“You wouldn’t have that many children, it’s definitely an oversupply.”
Mr Skrembox said council assessment panels needed to mindful of overloading areas, believing the majority of zones in the current planning system allowing for childcare centres.
“It’s getting out of hand now. It makes it so easy for developers,” he said.
He also believed there was a “fairly large over supply in most metropolitan areas”.
“The issue with too many in a particular locality is the demand is not there,” he said.
“That causes viability issues for the existing childcare operators, they won’t be at the occupancy level to be viable.
“You need to be 75 to 80 per cent to survive and be viable, if you drop below that level, you drop your daily fee.”
He said that led to centres reducing staffing and in turn, the quality of care and education.
EARLIER: Northeast resident Kitty McBrien feared there would be “considerable safety risks” with the Fairview Park centre having the entry and exit point on the corner of two roads.
The proposal, planned for a residential area, would cater for 100 children, be open from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday” to Friday, and employ 17 staff and provide 25 car parks.
However, two properties would be bulldozed for the plan.
“It is a strange place for a child care centre,” Ms McBrien said.
“There is overwhelming community opposition to this proposal.”
Tea Tree Gully Deputy Mayor Lucas Jones had “serious concerns” about the Fairview Park centre in the middle of a residential area.
“I have been bombarded by residents who are concerned about the potential consequences that the development may create such as lack of parking, traffic congestion and difficulty getting around the area where the development is proposed,” Cr Jones said.
“It seems odd to put a large child care centre in an area that is zoned residential.
“Residents who I have spoken to are not opposed to the concept of a child care centre, but rather the location that’s proposed.”
Meanwhile, the site of the latest Redwood Park application is currently accommodated by Redwood Plaza shopping centre with four existing shops, three vacant tenancies and a shared car park.
Consultant Ekistics, on behalf of the applicant, said vacancy rates for the centre have “progressively increased over time”.
Tea Tree Gully Council has also agreed in principle to a request from the applicant to close the L shaped road reserve, which extends from Milne Rd along the western boundary, returns along the northern boundary to the rear of the shops and connects with Argyll Crescent to the east, the application revealed.
The centre, which is proposed to be run by Eden Academy, would cater for 98 children and operate 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday – but play areas would not be used before 7am on any day – and have 25 carparking spaces.
“The new building is designed to modern standards and finishes and will be a significant visual improvement to the 50-year-old local centre,” Accord Property submitted.
“The child care centre will employ up to 20 staff or more than double the likely employment levels in the existing local centre.”
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