Bumblebee Childcare Facility Goonellabah plans to expand by 40 spots

Find out how Covid-19 has changed the approach for this massive childcare centre redevelopment – set to increase spots by almost half.

The owners of a Goonellabah childcare centre are embarking on a huge expansion plan to offer 40 new places and hire additional educators.

Bumblebee Early Education Centre lodged plans with Lismore City Council on March 7 for a development of its Slade St premises.

Under the over $600,000 proposal by planners Newton Denny Chapelle, the child care facility would grow from 58 children to 98 and increase staff numbers from 10 to 14.

Building upgrades would include two new preschool rooms for the 40 new kids, a staffroom, store room, amenities, unisex accessible toilet, and veranda.

“A community benefit will be realised as the proposal will enable a development that will directly service the childcare needs of the community,” the application read.

Although the increased number of staff and children would prompt the need for more parking space, the development application asked a variation be given to leave spaces at 22.

This was justified by the planner as an effect of Covid-19.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more parents are working from home and the need to drop off and pick up during normal working hours has declined,” the statement of environmental effects read.

“More parents are now preferring to walk or cycle to pick up and drop off as part of their exercise routine.

“For those parents now working from home, the time in care tends to be slightly shorter.

“It is now accepted that a greater percentage of parents will be working from home on a full or part time basis but child care will still be required for these parents.”

The proposal suggested an “appropriately worded condition” on the development consent notice which would required staggered drop off and pick up times to alleviate further concerns.

The application noted an expansion would not negatively impact the surrounding Goonellabah Business Hub.