Child care centre for 90 children proposed for Bourbong St

Three years after fire destroyed the original Spotted Dog Tavern and Federal Backpackers in the heart of Bundaberg, developers have lodged plans for a vital redevelopment.

A development application lodged with Bundaberg Regional Council has proposed a childcare centre with capacity for 90 children at 217 Bourbong St in Bundaberg Central.

A child care centre with capacity for 90 children could rise from the ashes of the original Spotted Dog Tavern and Federal Backpackers if a development application lodged with Bundaberg council on August 1 is given the green light.

The application prepared by Town Planning Alliance for Brisbane developer OneFin Property proposed construction of a single storey child care centre at 217 Bourbong St in Bundaberg Central.

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The site is currently an empty lot with the previous tenants, a backpackers hostel in the heritage Federal Hotel and the Spotted Dog Tavern, destroyed by a fire that started in the kitchen of the tavern in 2020.

The previous tenants, a backpackers hostel in the heritage Federal Hotel and the Spotted Dog Tavern, were destroyed by a fire that started in the kitchen of the tavern in 2020.

The proposed design of the child care centre takes inspiration from the historic Federal Hotel with a prominent awning, full height windows and sign writing all in character with the original hotel and council’s heritage overlay.

The proposed design of the child care centre takes inspiration from the historic Federal Hotel with a prominent awning, full height windows and sign writing all in character with the original hotel.

The proposed operating hours are 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, including both the child care centre and outdoor play areas.

Three play areas protected by shade sails are proposed for a 647m sq area facing Post Office Lane at the back of the site.

Plans for the child care centre include a single-storey l-shaped building containing six educational and play rooms with two rooms each for children aged under two, children aged between two and three, and children aged over three.

Two sleeping rooms, three bathrooms, kitchen and laundry facilities and a reception are also featured in the plans.

The proposed childcare centre includes a 647 sq m outdoor play area and building housing six educational and play rooms for varying ages.

The application said the site’s location is in keeping with council ordinances requiring child care centres to be near areas of community activity and employment, with Hinkler Central, the Bourbong St retail strip and local parks all a short distance away.

While the site is serviced by eight bus stops and Bundaberg Railway Station is less than 150m away, plans include 23 car parking spaces for 14 staff and short-term parking for nine visitors.

Access to the car park is from Bourbong St by left-in and left-out movements only.

Hinkler Central, the Bourbong St retail strip and local parks are all a short distance away, and the site is serviced by eight bus stops with Bundaberg Railway Station less than 150m away.

A traffic assessment by L+R Traffic + Transport Engineering included in the application anticipated a high level of drop-in trips, with parents or carers dropping off and picking up their children on the way to and from work in and around the CBD.

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A noise assessment by MWA Environmental included in the application found that noise from the nearby train line and busy Bourbong St can be reduced through acoustic treatment of the educational and play rooms and sleeping areas.

According to the OneFin Property website, the developers have been involved in the construction of four childcare centres in Brisbane, Logan and Moreton Bay.

Originally published as Child care centre for 90 children proposed for Bourbong St