Kool Beanz proposes childcare centres in West Mackay, Glenella

A family-owned business is setting itself to become a dominant childcare provider in North Queensland, with ambitious plans to roll out three new centres in short succession.

Design plans for Kool Beanz's proposed new childcare centre along Bridge Rd in West Mackay. Picture: Supplied to Mackay Regional Council

Kool Beanz could soon overtake C&K or Goodstart as the dominant childcare name in Mackay with its ambition to build no fewer than three new centres.

The business has already begun construction on its AFL-themed Juliet St childcare centre opposite Harrup Park Country Club which will cater for 50 children, with proposals submitted for two more facilities across the region.

Planning Approval Group, on behalf of KoolBeanz, lodged an application to Mackay Regional Council in early January to build another centre at 448 Bridge Rd and 5 Streeter Ave in West Mackay.

Documents state the 1813sq m site with access from Bridge Rd will accommodate “52 children and 11 equivalent full-time staff” with 430sq m designated to playground space where “mature trees will be retained”.

Kool Beanz's proposed new childcare centre in West Mackay will require the house at 448 Bridge Rd to be removed. Picture: Supplied to Mackay Regional Council

If approved, two homes will need to be removed for its construction.

Designs detail two main buildings connected via a central courtyard with a reception, baby, toddler and junior kindy rooms in the front building and a preschool, senior kindy, STEM/art and Zen room in the rear building.

Design plans for Kool Beanz's proposed new childcare centre along Bridge Rd in West Mackay. Picture: Supplied to Mackay Regional Council

Documents state there will also be 16 carparking spaces designed to accommodate larger cars and light vans with 11 of these spaces for staff members.

Design plans for Kool Beanz's proposed new childcare centre along Bridge Rd in West Mackay. Picture: Supplied to Mackay Regional Council

Like in West Mackay, two more homes will have to go if Kool Beanz’s plans for its centre on the other side of the Pioneer River at 40-42 Hill End Rd in Glenella are approved.

The combined sites just across the road from Glenella State School totals total 3814sq m.

Kool Beanz has also applied to build a centre on the other side of the Pioneer River at 40-42 Hill End Rd in Glenella.

Design plans for Kool Beanz’s proposed new childcare centre along Hill End Rd in Glenella. Picture: Submitted to Mackay Regional Council

That centre would operate from 6am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday, catering for up to 127 children across the baby, toddler, junior kindy, senior kindy, and pre-school rooms, with up to 25 staff.

There is also a Lego room proposed, similar to the Juliet St centre, with 38 onsite carparking spaces, 25 of which are for staff.

“The rear (eastern) half of the lot will remain vacant at this time, with potential for a future development application to be submitted for other essential educational service facilities or similar that will be accessed via Wasley Court,” document state.

Both applications state the Kool Beanz centres are family-owned and offer “state-of-the-art” facilities with a mission to engage with the “local environment and provide a valuable service to the community”.

Both also describe designs suited to the Mackay region tropical climate and summer humidity with a focus on wind flow and shaded areas.