Toowoomba development: Plan for childcare centre for 136 pupils in Glenvale submitted to council

A massive new childcare centre could be coming to a fast-growing suburb of Toowoomba if it’s approved by the council.

A growing suburb in Toowoomba looks set to get a new childcare centre, after plans were lodged with Toowoomba Reginoal Council for a new 136-space facility next door to two schools.

Applicant Glenvale Road Pty Ltd put forward the new project last week, which has been slated for a vacant block on the corner of Glenvale and Boundary roads in Glenvale.

The large land is part of the Park Hill Toowoomba subdivision, with the application including a lot reconfiguration to separate the childcare centre from the balance.

It is understood the remaining land will be used for stages six and seven of Park Hill.

According to the planning report by Property Projects Australia, the new childcare centre will operate from 6am to 7pm, five days a week, and cater to newborn children right through to kindy and school-aged kids.

“The development proposes a single level building which is consistent in appearance with the educational buildings located adjoining and opposite the subject site and is also compatible with the single level detached residential buildings located to the north and west of the subject site,” the report said.

“A total of 39 carparking spaces are provided for the child care centre building, including one PWD space.

“There are 20 staff carparking spaces and 19 visitor carparking spaces proposed.

“The child care centre is anticipated to employ 19 full-time equivalent educators, with a maximum capacity of 136 children.”

The report said vehicles would access the car park from Glenvale Rd, with no access given from Boundary Rd.

The proposed centre would sit close to two fast-growing schools – Glenvale State School and Glenvale Christian School.

If approved, it would be one of Toowoomba’s westernmost childcare centres and one of the few located in Glenvale itself.

Data from the Mitchell Institute shows there were just 0.55 childcare places per child in the Toowoomba West area, which includes Glenvale, Wilsonton, Torrington, Wellcamp, Charlton, Westbrook and Cotswold Hills.