$2.3m childcare centre to transform vacant lot at Sultana Ave, Leppington

Macarthur is one of the fastest growing regions in the state, and a proposal plans to help meet the growing demand for childcare.

A proposal for a childcare centre at 19 Sultana Ave, Leppington that would cater to 80 children is currently on public exhibition.

A $2.3m proposal to transform a vacant lot in southwest Sydney into a childcare centre to help meet the demands of a rapidly expanding region has gone before Camden Council.

The application for a centre at 19 Sultana Ave, Leppington, that would cater to 80 children is currently on public exhibition.

It would have 20 places for children aged zero to two, 30 places for the age two to three room and 30 places for children aged three to six.

The facility would consist of three indoor play rooms over two levels, sleeping rooms, administrative areas including staff rooms and offices, kitchen, laundry, storerooms and amenities.

The facility would also accommodate two outdoor play areas over two levels.

Artist impression of an outdoor play area.

“Being located within the south west growth centre, the locality is experiencing a significant transformation from semi rural to residential,” a report submitted to council stated.

“At the completion of the project, the proposed child care facility will provide valuable service to meet the day to day needs of future residents within the rapidly developing growth centre.”

The plan for the childcare comes after a report from Victoria University affiliated Mitchell Institute revealed earlier this year that parts of Macarthur are living in what it qualifies as “childcare deserts”.

The geographical divide was stark, with suburbs in the inner city having a range of childcare options, while parents in the southwest and western suburbs, along with regional NSW, have to compete for very few places.

In Campbelltown, the data revealed there were at least three children in the suburb for every childcare place. In Camden and Wollondilly, there are at least two.

It also showed more than 58 per cent of Campbelltown is considered a “childcare desert”, and the same term applied to 35.28 per cent of Wollondilly and 16.7 per cent of Camden.