Wyong: Trinity Early Learning lodges plans for 92-place childcare centre

The coast’s baby boom in new childcare centres shows no sign of slowing with plans lodged for another 92-place facility at Wyong. See the details and what it means to availability here.

If plans for a new childcare centre at Wyong are approved it could see more than 600 new placements open up in the next 12-18 months, taking the pressure off waiting lists across the region.

Sydney-based company Trinity Early Learning Centre has lodged plans for a 92-place childcare centre down the road from Wyong Train Station.

Under the plans three existing houses, numbers 27-31 Howarth St, would be demolished with a large single storey childcare centre built in their place.

An artist’s impression of the proposed childcare centre. Picture: supplied

The 2,170.9sq m site previously had an existing approval for a boarding house.

The centre would operate with a capacity of 92 places, being 12 places for children aged 0-2 and 40 places each for children aged 2-3 and 3-5, with 15 staff.

The centre would operate from 7am-7pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays and feature 22 carparking spaces, which is one short of what is required under local planning controls.

However the development application (DA) states there is ample on-street parking and the centre is within walking distance to bus stops and the train station.

Trinity Early Learning Centre has lodged plans to knock down three houses and build a 92-place childcare centre at Wyong. Picture: supplied

”The proposed single storey child care facility has incorporated features that would resemble a large dwelling house including pitched roof set within a landscape setting that will be compatible with the existing low density residential character along Howarth St,” the DA states.

Among the design features is a 2m-tall acoustic barrier fence around the play area, while an operational plan will manage the number of children in the outdoor play area at any one time to minimise noise on surrounding residents.

The centre will feature five play rooms catering for children of different age groups and the outdoor play area will feature a timber fort with slide, loop path, play equipment, sandpit, stepping stones, shade sail and a wooden `tee pee’ with bench seating

An artist’s impression of how the childcare centre would blend in like a house on Howarth St, Wyong. Picture: supplied

Trinity Early Learning Centre, which has two childcare centres in Sydney and one in Brisbane, was contacted for comment.

The application comes after a massive 120-place, $1.5 million, childcare centre was approved at a former dog boarding kennel facility in Erina Heights in August.

Another 103-place, $3.2 million, Sprout Early Learning Centre is under construction up the road at High Valley Close, Wamberal, and is currently recruiting staff and taking enrolments.

Meanwhile there are DA’s awaiting approval for three other new childcare centres including a $3.2 million, 100-place facility in Mann St, North Gosford, another $3.2 million centre on Wattle Tree Rd, Holgate, and a two-storey, $2.34 million, 90-place centre on The Entrance Rd at Long Jetty that would boast “undercroft parking” and an upstairs play area.