Ooralea Farming propose new Mackay childcare centre on Schmidtkes Rd

For Mackay parents on the southside desperate for more childcare options there’s some hope for a big new centre. SEE THE PLANS

Ooralea Farming Pty Ltd has applied to transform a plot of canefield in Ooralea into a large-scale 120-child centre at 23-25 Schmidtkes Rd. Picture: Contributed

Mackay parents are desperate for more childcare options and a massive new centre could soon help ease the pressure.

Ooralea Farming has applied to transform a plot of canefield in Ooralea into a large-scale 120-child centre.

The complex, located at 23-25 Schmidtkes Rd, would boast a single storey 390 sqm space and a 840 sqm outdoor play area.

Ooralea Farming Pty Ltd has applied to transform a plot of canefield in Ooralea into a large-scale 120-child centre. Picture: Contributed

The centre will have five activity rooms for children aged 0-5 years, a cot room for up to eight children, a staffroom, laundry and courtyard, toilets, offices and reception space, and a kitchen and pantry.

“The proposed Childcare Centre will be setback 10m from the Schmidtkes Rd frontage to the main building line, with a carparking area located wholly on the western side of the main building, screened by landscaping,” the application states.

The complex, located at 23-25 Schmidtkes Rd, would boast a single storey 390 sqm space and a 840 sqm outdoor play area. Picture: Contributed

“The proposed Childcare Centre will also be designed to be sympathetic to the Schmidtkes Rd frontage by integrating architectural features to the built form.

“It is intended that the architectural features, inclusive of various roof form and pitches, building recesses, windows and door features, will present to Schmidtkes Road and Jake Street, while also using various building materials, contributing to the overall streetscape amenity of the area.”

The centre will also support up to 19 staff.

The land near the site at 23-25 Schmidtkes Rd also features plots zoned for residential housing. Picture: Contributed

The land near the site also features plots zoned for future residential housing.

Mackay is going through a childcare centre building boom, with several new centres either lodged for assessment with the council or approved.

In April, Ezra Family Holdings submitted an application to build a 595 sqm centre at 46-48 Brisbane Street in the Mackay CBD, catering to 96 children with 14 staff on-site.