Pod Early School strives to keep January open date after fire

A north Brisbane childcare centre is striving to retain its January open date for enrolled families despite a blaze which gripped part of its new development.

The fire that gripped part of a Pod Early School which was under construction at Newmarket last month. Picture: Courier-Mail

The embattled owners of a heritage listed police station attached to a north Brisbane childcare centre development are racing to have the facility open for a waiting list of families.

Last month a fire tore though the 113-year-old former police station — which was to be incorporated into the development of a new Pod Early School on Enoggera Rd, Newmarket — destroying the heritage listed building.

Fire gripped part of a Pod Early School centre that was being constructed at Newmarket last month.

Planners for the childcare organisation — which also operates a centre at Mount Gravatt — yesterday submitted new plans to Brisbane City Council after news the police station was no longer usable.

In letter to the council, they asked for approval to replace the building with one of similar appearance.

“The applicant was in the final phases of construction with the childcare centre scheduled to open in January 2021,” the letter said.

The scene of a fire at a Pod Early School childcare centre that was being constructed at Newmarket last month.

“The site contained a local heritage building (the police station) and the applicant had invested considerable resources during the development application phase and in the construction phase to restore and refurbish the building to enable its repurposing as part of the childcare centre.

“The applicant’s priority is to meet their obligations to the families scheduled for January 2021 enrolment at the childcare centre and intent to replace the destroyed building using modern materials.”

Pod Early School, which already operates a centre at Mount Gravatt, is striving to retain its January 2021 open date for its new childcare centre at Newmarket despite a blaze which destroyed part of the development. Picture: Pod Early School

Pod Early School director of operations Lauren Fraser said the centre was saddened to lose the century-old police station “and its history”.

“Having said that, we are very thankful that no one was hurt and the fire department were incredible,” Ms Fraser said.

Pod Early School director Lauren Fraser said Pod Early School was striving to keep its Newmarket development on track despite a blaze which took hold of an existing building that was to become part of the new facility. Picture: Pod Early School

“We have had strong support and interest from families and are more determined than ever to finalise and open our beautiful centre.

“We have submitted an updated development application and are working with council to finalise this, so that our development stays on track,” she said.

Police confirmed an investigation into the cause of the blaze was still ongoing.

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