Lake Macquarie childcare centre plans emerge in Charlestown and Swansea
Childcare facilities are starting to pop up with Lake Macquarie’s largest suburb set for a multimillion dollar centre, while down the road another proposal is also in the works.
Newcastle
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A proposal to build a massive new three storey childcare centre in Lake Macquarie’s largest suburb could service more than 100 children.
A development application was lodged in early December by applicant Hopedell Investments for the $4.8 million centre-based child care facility on Dickinson St at Charlestown.
Residing within the Charlestown Town Centre, nestled among a local church, housing development and medical centre, the development would cater for a maximum of 122 children up to the ages of five years old.
The proposed facility would have seven distinct indoor play rooms over two levels, outdoor play areas, sleeping rooms, a nappy changing room, a cot room, administration area and bottle prep station.
The development application has stated a total of 22 educators would be employed and 30 carparking spaces would be available, with the hours of operations between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
“The proposed development provides a centre-based child care facility that will serve the needs of people who live and work in the local area, and also provide employment opportunities for local residents,” a planner said.
“The use as a centre-based child care facility will foster a sense of community given the nature of such community based land uses.”
But a development of this size in a suburban area has garnered plenty of opposition from nearby residents.
After being on public exhibition, Lake Macquarie Council received 18 submissions regarding the development, mainly opposing it, citing increased traffic, noise and privacy issues.
“It’s a stupid decision and doesn’t make sense to put such a big business,” one submission wrote.
A submission by Lake Group Strata, on behalf of its residents, also cited the proposal would overshadow adjoining dwellings and block out sunlight.
Although, one submission praised the development and labelled it a “great addition to the community” and would allow more people to head back to work.
Planning documents said consideration had been given to the potential environmental and amenity impacts of the proposed development and recommended its approval.
“Having regard to the benefits of the proposal and taking into account the absence of adverse environmental, social or economic impacts, the application is submitted to council for assessment and granting of development consent,” a planner said.
A social impacts assessment concluded the proposal would not “generate negative social impacts” but rather contribute to meeting a social need.
“The proposal is not expected to significantly impact upon the existing traffic networks within the subject area,” a planner said.
“The proposal contains design elements that seek to reduce potential visual, privacy and acoustic impacts and promote a high standard of residential amenity to neighbouring properties.”
The development proposal is currently under assessment with Lake Macquarie Council.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has lodged plans for its own 104-place childcare centre down the highway at Swansea.
Under the plans an existing building at 236 Pacific Highway, between the McDonalds restaurant and the Lake Macquarie Visitor Information Centre, would be kept for office space while the rear of the property would be extended out over the car park for the childcare centre.
Six staff from the church’s social services arm, Catholic Care, would occupy the front office space while its childcare subsidiary, St Nicholas Early Education, would run the day care centre with 28 staff.
Designed to cater for “working parents on the east side of Lake Macquarie” the childcare centre would operate over two levels including a large 589 square metres outdoor playground built over the existing car park along with four additional indoor playrooms, storage and admin rooms and amenities.
The proposal is open for public submissions with Lake Macquarie Council until January 20.
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