New childcare centre flagged for Meringandan West
A study found the suburb is home to hundreds of children under four years old but their parents are forced to leave the area to find a childcare centre.
Council
Don't miss out on the headlines from Council. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Plans have been lodged with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new childcare centre in Meringandan West.
If approved it will accommodate about a 100 students.
The proposal – put forward by Property Projects Australia – outlines plans for the centre on a 2700 sqm block on Meringandan-Shirley Road.
The site is about 18km north of Toowoomba and located in the Meringandan township expansion area of the Highfields, Meringandan and Meringandan West Local Plan Area.
It is near several residential developments and in an area zoned for community use.
A demographic study supporting the proposal talks of an undersupply of childcare placements in the Meringandan area.
The study shows that despite having an estimated 398 children under four years old, there are no long day care centres in the proposed centre’s catchment.
“Residents need to travel out of the local area to obtain child care that meets their needs (ie. Highfields),” the study said.
“Some families may be foregoing formal childcare and making other informal childcare arrangements – including deferring a return to work after having children.”
The site is currently occupied by several farm outbuildings that are set to be demolished.
The major tax ruling council says will save ratepayers $3m
The Toowoomba Regional Council has won a federal court case relating to carparking that they say will save ratepayers $3m over the next 10 years.
Former council CEO’s final payout remains a mystery
The final payout by the council to its former chief executive Brian Pidgeon remains unknown as the council prepares to welcome an interim CEO.
Mayors jetset across globe on 2032 Olympics delegation
Mayors across southeast Queensland have quietly embarked on a 10-day trip to Singapore, Paris and the UK, in a bid to learn about opportunities for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
‘Inevitable’: Mayor drops big hint over future of major carnival event
Mayor Geoff McDonald has weighed in on the future of a marquee event at this year’s Carnival of Flowers, conceding changes were ‘inevitable’. DETAILS.
Ex-Brisbane City CEO joins Toowoomba council as interim chief
The Toowoomba Regional Council’s new interim chief executive was responsible for a budget worth more than $4.3bn last year. Here will be the priorities during his short contract:
‘Horrifying’: Residents take council to court over new childcare centre
The Toowoomba Regional Council has been taken to court by residents opposing a new childcare centre on a major intersection, which locals say has been the site of serious crashes.