Imagine child care lodges plans for centre at Kirkellen Street, Berserker

The 94-space child care centre is the eighth application for a new centre approved or under assessment in the Rockhampton and Yeppoon region. Find out how many children are in care and how much it costs.

Plans for a 94-place child care centre in North Rockhampton have been submitted, making it the eighth application for a new centre in the Rockhampton and Yeppoon region in the past 12 months.

In December 2020, there were 56 government subsidy approved child care centres in the Rockhampton region, attended by 4,260 children aged zero to five years.

National company Imagine Childcare plans to build a new centre at 28-32 Kirkellen Street, with frontage on Musgrave Street.

The 2,501 sqm site was listed for $950,000 in a mortgagee sale and was sold in August.

There are three houses on the blocks, two of which are uninhabitable due to termite damage, and will be removed to make way for the development.

The proposed child care centre will employ 15 staff, looking after children from babies to those aged four-plus.

The development includes a building with six separate internal rooms, two large outdoor play areas, a 27-space car park, landscaping and five advertising signs.

The centre would operate from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

In the application to Rockhampton Regional Council, the developer stated the proposed centre would provide an essential service to the local community, support the day-to-day needs of families in the local area and add to the child care options in the area, along with increasing job opportunities.

If approved, it would be the 10th centre for the company in Queensland.

Imagine Childcare centres boast nutritious chef-prepared meals and free barista coffee for parents.

The company has a partnership with Nurch, which allows parents to earn points on their childcare fees and redeem them for digital gift cards with retailers including Kmart, Myer, Woolworths, Bunnings and Coles.

A new childcare centre is also under construction at Stockland Rockhampton.

Green Leaves Early Learning was approved in February for a 100-space centre.

Rockhampton-founded company Natural Wonders was approved in May for a third centre to be built at Parkhurst, next to the school, with capacity for 152 children.

A 106-space child care centre on Main Street, Park Avenue, is now under assessment by council.

St Peter’s Catholic School lodged plans a few months ago for a 30-space kindy, which is also under assessment.

Expansions are also underway at a number of Rockhampton child care centres including Farm Street Early Learning Centre, a new building at Rockhampton Grammar School Early Learning Centre for 44 more children and space for 59 more children at Genius child care Allenstown.

In Yeppoon, a 115-place child centre on Tanby Road is under assessment, a 68-space centre on Park Street was approved in October and The Real Group is putting in a creche for staff children at its Barmaryee Road offices.

Coastal Kids at Emu Park was approved in December to add room for 50 more children.

The Imagine child care centre at Berserker is under assessment by Rockhampton Regional Council.

Across Australia, 1,311,630 children attended a government subsidised child care centre in the December quarter 2020, with 44.6 per cent aged 0-5 years and 30.4 per cent aged 0-12 years.

This includes centre-based care, outside of school hours care and family day care.

On average, weekly hours per child across all services was 26.1 hours, around three days per week.

The Australian government subsidised $2.25 billion in the December quarter 2020 and the average hourly fee was $10.15.

New South Wales has the highest number of children attending care with Queensland second in line with 305,950 children using approved child care.

Data in order of children attending government subsidy approved child care centres in the December quarter 2020 / 2019

Rockhampton

Number of children 0-5 years: 4,260 / 4360

Number of children 6+ years: 2,250 / 2,330

Total of children: 6,510 / 6,690

Total of families: 4,520 / 4,610

Number of services: 54 / 56

Central Highlands

Number of children 0-5 years: 620 / 670

Number of children 6+ years: 230 / 280

Total of children: 850 / 950

Total of families: 610 / 670

Number of services: 9 / 9

Biloela

Number of children 0-5 years: 190 / 210

Number of children 6+ years: 100 / 80

Total of children: 280 / 290

Total of families: 210 / 210

Number of services: 5 / 5

Gladstone

Number of children 0-5 years: 2,190 / 2, 240

Number of children 6+ years: 1,010 / 880

Total of children: 3,200 / 3,120

Total of families: 2,250 / 2,230

Number of services: 23 / 23