Mackay childcare centres yet to be built, open | Full list
Enrolment numbers at Mackay childcare centres are bursting at the seams while there are more than a dozen proposals that could help ease the pressure. SEE THE FULL LIST, DESIGNS
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Enrolment numbers at Mackay childcare centres are bursting at the seams while there are more than a dozen proposals that could help ease the pressure.
If all of the centres were approved and actually built, there would be more than 1300 new childcare spots available, potentially putting an end to pregnant mothers in the Mackay region being told to put their unborn children on waiting lists.
Scroll down to see the full list of proposed centres.
West Mackay
One of Mackay’s oldest residential suburbs, West Mackay has three sites pegged out for new centres.
The most recent application lodged to Mackay Regional Council concerns the 2420 sqm site with frontages on 191 Nebo Rd and 44 McGinn St where the shut Mia Mia Hotel sits.
The landowners, Dennis, Betty and Anthony Kay, had intended to build the town’s first 7 Eleven service station there, a proposal which angered residents and had a Mackay archdeacon concerned over disruptions to funerals.
They have since applied to build a single-storey Green Leaves Early Learning centre that would cater for up to 98 children, employ 16 full-time staff and incorporate 26 dedicated car parks.
Documents detail the centre would open between 6am and 7pm Monday to Friday, with acoustic barriers between 2m to 2.5m high to curb the noise.
It adds the centre feeds a “significant demand” for childcare in Mackay and a national childcare operator had already committed to the site.
Elsewhere in West Mackay, Kool Beanz has the go-ahead to build a 52-spot childcare centre at 448 Bridge Rd and 5 Streeter Ave.
Two homes will need to be removed with designs detailing two main buildings complete with a STEM/art and Zen Room.
Before construction can actually start however, the developer will first need to apply for an Operational Works permit.
South Mackay
The abandoned Napier Shopping Village could be re-purposed into a childcare centre catering for up to 126 children and employing 19 staff.
Zandabay received council approval in May for its proposed centre at 1 to 3 Napier St which would operate from 6am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
The centre would cater for 20 children aged 0-2, 22 children aged 3-4 and 44 children aged 3-5 on the ground floor, while the first floor play area would accommodate 40 children aged 2-3.
East Mackay
Neck Group applied to the council in August to build a two-storey childcare centre on a 1608 sqm site at 37 and 39 Goldsmith St.
If approved, two tidy Queenslanders adjacent to Victoria Park State School and near Queens Park would be demolished to build the centre that would accommodate 102 children and employ 17 full-time staff.
Documents lodged to council state the centre includes six rooms, three outdoor play areas, 28 car parks, and landscaping and acoustic fencing “to avoid any adverse amenity impacts”.
“Elevation Architecture have designed a highly attractive and contemporary development which makes a positive contribution to the amenity of the surrounding area and the prevailing neighbourhood character,” documents state.
The centre would operate 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
The council responded to Nack Group in September requesting more details on acoustic walls, fencing, pedestrian access, sewer realignment, car park layout, bicycle parking, and traffic impacts.
There has not yet been a reply.
Mackay CBD
Ezra Family Holdings received approval from council in June to build a two-storey childcare centre at 46 and 48 Brisbane St.
It will accommodate 96 children and employ 14 staff, be open from 6.30am to 6.30pm each day, and have 24 on-site car parks.
Landscape designs detail a multi-surface bike rack, herb garden, open cubby, active play zone with a fort and slide, wet creek bed with natural stone, and a raised deck with a water hand pump.
Elsewhere in the Mackay CBD, Geocal Education got the green light in March to build its childcare centre at 48 to 52 Carlyle St, seven years after plans were first submitted to council.
The centre, if built, will cater for up to 97 children between the hours of 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
The current period for the development will expire on April 3, 2025.
Ooralea
Ooralea Farming applied to transform a plot of canefield at 23-25 Schmidtkes Rd into a large-scale childcare centre boasting an 840 sqm outdoor play area.
The centre would have five activity rooms for children aged 0-5 years, and accommodate up to 120 children.
Sarina
Developers had earlier this year submitted plans to council to build a two-storey, 75-spot childcare along Reef Dr in Sarina, but it was met with fierce opposition from neighbours.
The application has since been withdrawn without an explanation as to why.
Glenella
Two homes will have to go if Kool Beanz gets approval to build a centre with a Lego room at 40-42 Hill End Rd in Glenella.
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 preschool rooms, with up to 25 staff.
The council contacted the development’s town planner in August requesting more information about traffic flow, car parks, fencing, and floor areas.
Kool Beanz has not yet replied.
Mount Pleasant
Brisbane Prestige Property Developments received a yes from the council in early November to build a single-storey childcare centre at 63 Norris Rd.
The vacant block is right next door to the Mackay Private Hospital and across the road from Fitzgerald State School, one of Mackay’s largest primary schools.
It could cause traffic chaos with parents already regularly packing the block at school pick-up and drop-off but documents state the centre will have its own dedicated 40 carpark spaces plus space for at least four bicycles.
A traffic assessment submitted to council showed there were more than 1000 vehicles per hour along Norris Rd between the hours of 8am and 9am and more than 900 between 3pm and 4pm.
The childcare centre will accommodate up to 108 children between the hours of 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
Blacks Beach
More than eight months after a desperately-needed childcare centre was approved for Blacks Beach, construction is yet to commence.
Crossroad Developments had received approval from Mackay Regional Council back in February to build its 99-spot centre next to the Blacks Beach Tavern along Slaters Rd.
The six-room centre with a gross floor area of 796 sqm is expected to help alleviate a severe shortage of childcare options in Mackay as expectant mothers sign up to waitlists before their babies are delivered.
But documents lodged to the council reveal a delay during the detailed design process because of “significantly higher than expected” construction costs.
Andergrove
Ink Developments received approval in June for a new $3.725m facility at 710 Cutler Dr that will cater to 100 children at the 2761 sqm site comprised of six indoor rooms.
The centre, which should be up and running by July 2024, will have 29 car spaces with 10 drop-off spots and 19 for staff, operate between 6.30am and 6.30pm, and create 19 full-time jobs.
It will accommodate for 100 children aged 0-5 and includes 29 car parks, and is located opposite the AFL grounds and nearby Whitsunday Anglican School.
Beaconsfield
Griffith Group has plans for a $3.7m childcare centre that will cater for 110 children at a 2478 sqm, ranging from infants to kindergarten, space at 106-108 Eaglemount Rd.
The proposed centre will be a single storey facility with a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces with landscaping and acoustic fencing located along the neighbouring boundaries to minimise any amenity concerns.
Construction of the centre is set to begin late 2023 and it should be operational by December 2024, creating about 22 new full-time positions for educators, support staff, administrators and maintenance personnel.
Elsewhere in Beaconsfield, construction is underway on the Eden Academy Kerrisdale childcare centre along Norwood Parade which fronts Golf Links Rd.
It features seven activity rooms and will cater for 108 children.
There are also three dedicated outdoor play areas with a combined 792 sqm, a pram room, bike parking, kitchen, staffroom, yoga room, and a reception area with a library.
Eden Academy, self described as “revolutionising childcare” stated it offered “holistic” education and was “dedicated to fostering mindfulness into little beings”.
Moranbah
At least one of the up-to-three extra childcare centres needed in Moranbah will soon come to fruition.
Isaac Regional councillors have unanimously voted to approve plans, with conditions, to build a 112 place centre with an 863 sqm gross floor space at 164 and 166 Mills Ave.
Two homes will be demolished to make way for the centre on the 2261 sqm site.
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