Childcare company unveils $7.7m plans for Wollstonecraft centre

A MULTIMILLION-dollar childcare centre is planned for a prime harbour front location in Wollstonecraft — with outdoor play and Mandarin lessons.

Artist’s impression of the planned home and childcare development. Picture: Courtesy of Avenues

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A MULTIMILLION-dollar childcare centre is planned for a prime harbour front location in Wollstonecraft.

The site close to Berry Island would cater for 154 kids from newborn to preschool, and almost 30 staff.

The project is expected to cost $7.7 million and include the construction of a new dwelling beside the centre.

“We only look for locations with a great need,” Shan Kuo from Avenues Early Learning Centre said.

“There is a shortage of supply of childcare places in the area. The North Sydney area has a lot of children and has a demand for it.”

The site on Shirley Rd. Picture: Adam Ward

Plans show the childcare centre would span over three levels and include outdoor play spaces.

The children would enjoy views over Gore Cove from the building, which would cover more than 1000sq m.

“It’s a beautiful sight for the children to see every day,” Ms Kuo said.

“It’s a positive for children to see the harbour while playing. It’s a very serene area.”

Avenues, which is run by Ms Kuo and her husband Mike Wu, currently has 13 centres in the Brisbane area. The couple has been in the industry over a decade.

Avenues has a partner operating in Sydney but this will be the first centre the company will operate itself in the city.

The centres have a focus on teaching music and Mandarin — and lots of play options with mud, sand and water.

“We do things differently to other operators,” Ms Kuo said.

“We know we run very high-quality centres and there’s nothing like it in Sydney.

“We are eager to make our first mark in Sydney.”

Detailed plans of the development. Picture: Courtesy of Avenues

The centre would be nestled among trees. Picture: Courtesy of Avenues

The centre would see the demolition of existing buildings on the sloping Shirley Rd site alongside landscaping and tree removal.

The operating hours would be Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm. Fees are expected to be between $150 to $180 per day.

Ms Kuo said the centre will meet all the requirements of the building code.

“The code has a lot of requirements we need to meet,” she said.

“The design process is quite stringent.”

WHAT DOES THE BUDGET MEAN FOR YOU?

The proposed modern-style house on the site includes a pool and is also across three levels.

The development application has been submitted to North Sydney Council but the decision will be made by the State Government’s Sydney North Planning Panel. A panel meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The council has already received several submissions on the development.

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