Where Geelong will be getting childcare centres
As the Geelong region expects to see its population balloon to more than 400,000 in the coming years, and the Surf Coast continues to grow, addressing the region’s childcare needs is constantly at the fore.
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As the Geelong region expects to see its population balloon to more than 400,000 people in the coming years, and the Surf Coast continues to grow, addressing the region’s childcare needs is constantly front and centre.
While the City of Greater Geelong runs multiple locations across the municipality, plans for new childcare centres are constantly going before council.
See below where they’re popping up.
Pod – Portarlington
Plans before council in June would see a Portarlington get a new childcare centre with the capacity to host close to 100 children.
The proposal for a $3m centre on Newcombe St would have five separate rooms to accommodate children, with other rooms including an entry, kitchen, laundry, staff areas and amenities. There would be an outdoor play space of 676 sqm.
The centre would be run by Pod, which runs three centres in Queensland.
On their website, Pod said it carefully selected the location of its schools to ensure they were part of an “education community”.
According to the City of Greater Geelong planning register, no decision has been made.
Orana Early Learning – Highton and Grovedale
Two new multimillion-dollar childcare centres could be coming to Geelong, with plans out for public consultation in April.
Plans for the new centres – in Highton and Grovedale – were lodged with the City of Greater Geelong.
Begley Group submitted plans for a multi-level Highton centre at 22-24 Barrabool Rd, which if approved would cost about $5.27m and cater for 106 children.
Reserve Rd – Grovedale
A new childcare centre will be built on a vacant plot in Grovedale after plans lodged to Geelong council were given the tick of approval.
Located at 71 Reserve Rd, it would have capacity for 84 children.
The single-storey centre would feature five children’s rooms, each with a capacity ranging from 12 to 22 kids as well as a reception, office, kitchen, laundry and staffroom.
There would also be a large outdoor play area, including a covered play space, and raingarden.
The plans state there would be 18 car spaces with nine for staff and nine for visitors.
The development is estimated to cost $1m.
According to the City of Greater Geelong planning register, a permit has been issued.
Forest Rd North – Lara
Plans were lodged in March last year for an empty lot in Lara to be transformed into a $1.5m childcare centre.
Town planning firm Aglow lodged a planning application for the 44 Forest Rd North site with the City of Greater Geelong on behalf of developers Four Square Homes West.
The development will include five childcare rooms to accommodate 104 children, and would operate from 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
“This proposal will provide for the needs of the community and create local employment, as well as provide for a new development of high architectural merit,” planning documents argue, adding the centre would also be energy efficient and feature “a good level of landscaping”.
“The proposal will not cause any additional detriment by odour, noise or light spill beyond
the site’s boundaries.
“The level of noise generated by the proposal will be minimal. On this basis, it is considered that the proposal is worthy of support.”
The centre would also feature a 729 sqm outdoor play area, two staffrooms, a reception and waiting area, manager’s cabin, meeting room, kitchen, laundry and amenities and accommodate 22 carparks.
The plot remains empty.
Originally published as Where Geelong will be getting childcare centres
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