Concerns raised as development boom sparks childcare centre rush on brisbane’s bayside
A childcare centre rush has hit the suburbs of Brisbane’s bayside. See the new projects coming to the area.
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A residential boom has hit Brisbane’s bayside and childcare centre developers looking to cash in.
In the past three years, there have been more than 10 development applications to build childcare centres with some starting construction, others falling over and a few still being assessed by the Brisbane City Council.
If some recent proposals are approved by the Brisbane City Council, it could take the amount of childcare centres on the bayside to more than 20.
Developers, such as Roland Dean from Ryland Pty Ltd, said the trend has a lot to do with the changing demographic in bayside suburbs, with younger families moving in due to the amount of new residential buildings and the growing entertainment scene.
Mr Dean said he believed childcare was undersupplied in the area by half.
“Parents want more and with the resurgence in demographic as far as more young families in the area, it’s what the market wants, you can’t have one without the other,” Mr Dean said.
“We also don’t have an operator for Ernest St yet but have been inundated with people wanting to rent it, so how can there be an oversupply, if it’s in such high demand.”
Councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter Cumming (ALP) said he didn’t know what had sparked the rush of childcare centre proposals for the area but urged developers to make sure they do their research so the these projects weren’t empty once they were built.
Take a look below at the childcare centres either proposed or coming to the bayside.
200 STRADBROKE AVE, WYNNUM
Places: 152
Status: Approved and under construction
The first of two childcare centre projects and part of a more than $10 million investment in the area from born and bred baysider Roland Dean, the managing director of Ryland Pty Ltd, the development was approved by the Brisbane City Council in late 2019.
As part of the initial rush from developers to bring more childcare to the bayside, the centre at the corner of 2327 Wynnum Rd and 200 Stradbroke Ave, is at the site of a formerly Church-owned building and was previously a boarding house.
Situated at the Stradbroke Rd entrance to the Wynnum State School, the centre will bring an additional 152 childcare places for the bayside community.
The project features four rooms for children as well as two sleep areas, an outdoor dining area, an arts are and 30 carpark spaces.
Mr Dean said he expected construction to finish and for the centre to be open late this year.
20-22 ERNEST ST, MANLY
Places: 108
Status: Development proposal submitted November 16, 2020
One of the most controversial of the new childcare centre proposals on the bayside, this project is also from Roland Dean and Ryland Pty Ltd as their interest in building on the area’s changing demographic and development spike.
The proposal is for a two-storey, 108-place centre and will include the demolition of the current two boarding houses, have been there and part of the Dean family for almost 50 years.
Featuring three outdoor play areas, an undercover play area, a roof terrace, six activity rooms and 23 carpark spaces – the project will take up 735 sqm of the 1374 sqm site.
However, the proposal has received some backlash from the bayside community, citing traffic as a major issue because the centre would be on one of the busiest streets in Manly and it would also be on the same road as the Treehouse Early Learning Centre, which opened just last December.
St John Vianney’s Catholic School and Manly State School are also on the same street.
“I do have to admit that Ernest St is already full of frustrating crazy morning rushing parents who let their kids out of their car on middle of the road while stuck in traffic,” one submission on the council’s PD Online site said.
“For kids safety we need Council help to stop any further development to avoid airport like traffic where security is needed at drop off and pick up areas.”
Councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter Cumming (ALP) said he had started an online petition to oppose the new centre and believed another childcare centre on Ernest St would make the traffic situation worse.
But Mr Dean said he didn’t believe the new centre would make a difference to the traffic in the area.
164 KIANAWAH RD, WYNNUM WEST
Places: 120
Status: Development Proposal submitted January 20
A 120-place centre at Kianawah Rd, Wynnum West is the newest childcare proposal after only being submitted to the Brisbane City Council late last month.
The one-storey development from Rogers Land Pty Ltd and designed by Architectural Collaborative sits in a growing residential area on a busy road, which connects motorists from Wynnum to Lindum and Hemmant.
The site is also close to the Wynnum Vikings Australian Rules Football Club, Iona College and also the controversial Lindum Level Crossing.
With 1044 sqm of outdoor play areas, undercover play areas, seven rooms as well as 24 carpark spaces, the proposal could finally bring a childcare centre to Wynnum West after a previous application for one at Randall Rd never went ahead.
All access to the centre will be from Evelyn Rd and Jillian Place.
105 WHITES RD, LOTA
Places: 109
Status: Development proposal submitted December 8, 2020
Another proposal submitted in recent months, this project differs from other childcare centre applications because it sits outside the Wynnum, Wynnum West and Manly suburbs – where these sorts of developments are common.
The project from Property Projects Pty Ltd sits on Whites Rd, where the old Wynnum Hospital site which will now be transformed into an indigenous health hub used to be, is for 109 children and is currently being assessed by the Brisbane City Council.
The two-storey building will also include three outdoor play areas as well as undercover play areas, six rooms and 22 carpark spaces.
The proposal will take up 945 sqm of the 1930 sqm site and will also see the demolition of an existing house and structures to make way for the redevelopment.
The planners in charge of the project also said the proposal was created in a way that it wouldn’t negatively impact surrounding residential areas.
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