Smartland boutique early learning centre: Singh Enterprises plans Pimpama

The battle to solve the Gold Coast’s shortage of childcare centres has taken another step, with plans unveiled for a new early learning facility in a surprise suburb. FIND OUT MORE

The battle to solve the Gold Coast’s shortage of childcare centres has taken another step, with plans unveiled for a new early learning facility in the city’s far north.

Singh Enterprises wants to build a 782 sqm centre at the junction of Creek St and Pimpama Jacobs Well Road.

It will be the first Smartland boutique early learning centre built on the Gold Coast, with the brand expanding into the city having already become established on the Sunshine Coast, Tweed Heads and Brisbane, as well as locations across central NSW.

The centre will have room for 108 children aged up to five years, with six age-specific rooms and three external play areas.

Artist impression of a proposed smartland childcare centre earmarked for a site in Pimpama. Picture: Supplied

The single-storey building will have 18 staff and operate between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The site is owned by Teja and Jarnail Singh, with a report lodged with council arguing it is the right location for a centre given the suburb’s rapidly growing population.

“The proposed development is ideally located within proximity to substantial residential development, including an approved Multiple dwelling for 105 units east across Pimpama Jacobs Well Road,” the report reads.

“Pimpama is a suburb in the northern Gold Coast which has seen exponential urban growth over the last few years and is expected likely to continue for the coming years as a direct result of land use shortages and population growth demand for the City of Gold Coast.”

It is the third proposed childcare centre to be unveiled in recent months, following similar education facilities at Worongary and Miami.

A report lodged with the council in late 2024 warned the city urgently needed more childcare centres as the Gold Coast’s population continued to rise.

“More than 50 per cent of families in the catchment have dependent children and this indicates a community with existing and growing needs for childcare services based on the socio-demographic characteristics of residents and households,” it read.

“There are currently two long-day childcare centres, supporting a total of 150 places.

“There are no approved centres within the wider catchment.

“There is an estimated undersupply of 208 childcare places within the catchment in 2023. Assuming no additional supply is developed by 2026, the estimated undersupply within the catchment is estimated to increase to 242 places.

“Undersupply will increase further to 291 in 2031 and to 351 by 2036 as a result of population growth within the catchment.”

Originally published as Smartland boutique early learning centre: Singh Enterprises plans Pimpama