Sunshine Coast childcare centres: New centres coming and proposed

Almost 900 new childcare spaces are on the way with several major developments planned for the Sunshine Coast. See which ones are coming near your suburb.

From nature-focused centres to well known operators looking to expand their reach the Sunshine Coast is slated for a number of major childcare centres.

With the region’s population expected to boom to 500,000 people by 2041 there are plenty of new childcare centres lining up to open their doors.

Here is a look at some of the childcare centres under construction or awaiting approval.

Bokarina Beach

Green Beginnings – 75 spaces

A nature-focused child care centre is expected to open at a new development at Bokarina Beach next year.

Andrew and Narelle Whatham are opening their third Green Beginnings childcare centre, adding to two at Lake Kawana.

Plans to transform the 1604sq m vacant block at Tailslide Crescent are in the early design stage and the centre was expected to open late 2022.

Bells Creek

Evolution Child Care – 304 spaces

Sunshine Coast Council is considering an application for a 304 space childcare centre, cafe and veterinary surgery at one of the Sunshine Coast’s fastest growing areas.

MC Property Investments and Ara Phillips lodged the plans with the council last year for the site owned by Economic Development Queensland, near Corbould Park racecourse.

Evolution Early Learning already operates a three-storey, architecturally-designed childcare centre in Mooloolaba.

The proposed childcare centre would cater to children aged from six weeks to five years and include a state government-approved kindergarten program.

It was proposed to operate between the hours of 6am-9pm, seven days a week, while the restaurant would open from 6am-6pm and the vet surgery from 7am-6pm.

Sippy Downs

HQ – 120 spaces

Sunshine Coast-based Devcon Property Group expects to start construction next year on a 120-space child care centre at Sippy Downs.

The centre is part of Devcon’s $35m HQ by Devcon development which also features units and retail outlets.

Construction has started on the residential units and the childcare centre and office and retail spaces are in the second stage.

Fairfax Street – 44 places

Sunshine Coast-based developers Evans Long are keen to build a childcare centre at Sippy Downs at a location near two other centres.

Directors Matthew Evans and Dirk Long have applied to Sunshine Coast Council to build the childcare centre at Fairfax Street, across the road from a centre they opened in 2020 and around the corner of another facility.

The application said another centre was needed to address the demand within the Sippy Downs catchment.

The two-storey childcare centre and food and drink outlet would be built at the Sippy Downs Central development within the town centre.

The childcare centre would be on the second storey with two rooms, as well as covered and uncovered play areas.

Peregian Springs

Habitat Early Learning Centre – 93 spaces

A childcare centre with a yoga studio for parents and a design inspired by local forests, lakes and mountains is planned for the Sunshine Coast.

A development application is being considered by the council for a Habitat Early Learning Centre at Peregian Springs to offer Montessori early education from birth to school aged children.

The centre would replace a vacant commercial building that was previously used as a property sales office at 2 Longwood Drive.

Kuluin

Commercial road – 100 spaces

A Brisbane development firm has applied to build a 100-space childcare centre at Kuluin.

The single-storey centre at 1-5 Commercial Road would feature six rooms and three large outdoor play areas.

Development application documents show they believe it would capitalise on the site’s location as a major access road between Kuluin’s residential and industrial areas.

The application is still in progress with Sunshine Coast Council.

Aura

Good Start Early Learning – 132 spaces

An application has been lodged to build a new childcare centre at a growing Caloundra South suburb, Nirimba.

Stockland Development Group lodged the application with the state government and said a centre was a “high priority” for the area.

It said the building design, layout and arrangements would be similar to the Good Start Early Learning at Baringa.

The centre would be 3356sq m and located on what is now vacant land within Aura Central, near the Nirimba District Sports Facility.

It would also be 500m from the Nirimba State Primary School, expected to open in January 2022.