Lockyer Valley council considers 150-place childcare centre at Plainland Crossing

Essential childcare services could be boosted in a fast-growing community east of Toowoomba, after a proposal was lodged for a new centre with 150 places.

A fast-growing community east of Toowoomba is getting even more essential services, with a 150-place childcare centre planned in Plainland Crossing.

Developer Ayse Genc put forward plans to the Lockyer Valley Regional Council for a new 2500 sqm centre fronting Gehrke Road in Plainland, north of the turn-off from the Warrego Highway.

The project includes a 1350 sqm building comprising internal and external space, a 900 sqm outdoor play space, 250 sqm veranda area and 36 car parks at the front.

According to the planning report by Property Projects Australia, the new facility would cater for babies right through to school-aged children.

“The outdoor play spaces have been designed to meet the state government legislative requirements regarding age group and sufficient dedication of space for the proposed occupancy,” the report said.

“The design includes 10 activity rooms within the built form that will accommodate two nurseries, three junior toddler rooms, two toddler rooms, one kindergarten, one senior kindergarten and one outside of school hours care.”

The centre would reportedly hire 25 full-time staff, operating from 6am until 7pm during the week.

The application also included plans for a second stage involving the dwelling at the rear of the centre, which would be a caretakers house for employees and families of the facility.

In a second stage, the land would be subdivided to create two blocks and the dwelling would be treated as a residential property again.

Reports were also submitted regarding landscaping, traffic impacts and acoustic amenity.

Residents and businesses have continued to flood into the new masterplanned community of Plainland Crossing, which now features a Bunnings, supermarkets and fast food outlets.