Toowoomba childcare centre proposed to council for suburban area in Middle Ridge
A plan for large childcare centre that would back onto a quiet suburban street in Toowoomba has been submitted to the council.
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A plan for a massive new childcare centre slated for land that backs onto a quiet suburban street has been proposed to council.
Commercial developers Flux Property Group lodged a development application this month for a 112-place centre on a 2700 sqm parcel on Ramsay Street in Middle Ridge.
According to the planning report by Ethos Urban, the new centre would feature a partial second storey component, covering a gross floor area of 850 sqm and an outdoor play area of 800 sqm.
More than 30 on-site car parks have been allocated, with the centre to support 19 jobs following construction.
The parcel, which is zoned as low-density residential, also backs onto a suburban street ending in a cul-de-sac called Maggie Court, although this would not be used as an access point for the centre.
Pre-lodgement meeting minutes with the council’s planning department highlighted this as an issue, along with parking, the bulk and scale of the centre and landscaping requirement.
Ethos Urban argued any impacts could be mitigated through conditions, highlighting that a childcare centre was an appropriate non-residential use for the zoning and would have added community benefits.
“The proposal locates the child care centre in a well-located area to serve the local residents and allows for convenience in proximity to parks, centre uses and to schools which children can move to when they come of age,” the report said.
“The location of the child care centre allows for the needs of residents to be met within proximity to their homes.
“Additionally, the site is in proximity to other community facilities, including aged care facilities, sport and recreation facilities and the nearby Middle Ridge local centre.
“The proposal will benefit the local community by providing a greater choice of child care centres and local jobs.”
An attached acoustic report made several recommendations to mitigate noise impacts on residents, including the construction of acoustic barriers along the perimeter, operating hours of between 7am and 6pm and limits on the number of children outside at any one time.
Reports were also submitted relating to traffic impacts, landscaping and waste management.
Because the DA is impact-assessable, a public notification period will need to be carried out prior to any decision being made.
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Originally published as Toowoomba childcare centre proposed to council for suburban area in Middle Ridge
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