Toowoomba childcare centre approved by council in Rangeville despite backlash from neighbours

A new childcare centre for nearly 100 residents has caused an uproar after council approved the development. See where the new centre is going and why it has locals so upset.

The Toowoomba Regional Council gave the green light this week to the new centre on South Street in Rangeville, which would be operated by Only About Kids (Oak) and cater for nearly 100 children.

The two-storey centre includes 25 car parks for parents and staff, an outdoor play deck on the first floor and indoor activity rooms.

According to the assessment report by council officer Emily Hinchliffe, the proposal went through a number of changes since its November 2021 lodgement due to its inconsistency with the planning scheme.

The site, which sits directly opposite Rangeville State School and surrounded by residential housing, attracted more than a dozen objections from neighbours.

Among the chief concerns from residents were the centre’s impacts on traffic and access down South Street, safety for school students, noise and acoustic amenity and its lack of consistency with the low-medium density zoning.

“Our main objection to this proposal is that the building would be too close to our house and boundary and unshielded by trees,” neighbours John and Alison Swarbrick wrote in their submission.

“We anticipate that if the proposal is accepted there would be continuous noise throughout the day from the more than one hundred small children, seriously disturbing the quiet enjoyment of our property to which we are entitled.”

PROPOSED: A new Oak childcare centre has been approved for South Street in Rangeville, opposite the primary school.

“Traffic in this area including High Street during peak school time is already an issue, adding this development will add to the issues already experienced,” resident Genevieve O’Keefe wrote.

“Local residents see this all the time and should be listened to understand the real situation in the area, not (have council) rely solely on a traffic engineering response.”

In response to the concerns, Ms Hinchliffe said the project had been conditioned to comply with the council’s planning scheme.

“The final proposal is considered to comply with relevant planning scheme provisions or, to the extent of noncompliance, is considered capable of being conditioned to comply,” her assessment report said.

More than 120 conditions were attached to the approval.