New modern childcare centre in the works for Churchill as childcare demand increases

A booming family locale in Ipswich will receive a much-needed new modern two-storey childcare centre, expected to provide 81 placements as childcare demand rises. SEE THE PLANS

A new childcare centre is in the works to cater to Ipswich’s rising childcare needs.

Uniland Investments Pty submitted a development application on Monday to build a two-storey childcare centre on a 1,682sqm corner lot at 2 Greave Street, Churchill.

The centre is expected to include 12 staff and provide 81 placements for children from Churchill and the surrounding areas.

The plans for the childcare centre include five activity areas with ancillary facilities and a sleeping area, along with two play areas – one semi-covered on the ground floor, and a 390sqm outdoor play area on the second level.

The design has a modern exterior and will include 23 car parks – one disability space, 12 for staff, nine for visitors, a loading zone, and access for waste collection and delivery vehicles.

Rendering of proposed new childcare centre, Churchill.

The lot is in a Residential Low Density Zone – with conveniently proximity to Churchill State School and Lobley Park.

A childcare needs assessment prepared by Business Geographics Pty noted that the closest childcare centre has no vacancies at present, and Churchill holds a higher percentage of children under five years than the State demographic.

Further, it noted a new centre would cater to rising demand in surrounding areas – Deebing Heights and Ripley Valley, which it said is “still developing and lacks adequate childcare supply”.

The lot is currently vacant, with little vegetation.

The application proposes landscaping to all side boundaries to “soften the visual appearance of the building and retaining to the street and nearby properties”.

During the pre-lodgement phase, the Ipswich City Council expressed concerns regarding the impact of air emissions from the exhaust of light and heavy vehicular traffic on Warwick Road, which is an arterial road with over 15,000 vehicle movements per day.

Potential development site for new childcare centre, Churchill.

The air quality assessment found the predicted pollutant levels were well below the air quality objective, and concluded vehicular traffic on the surrounding roads would not adversely impact the air quality at the proposed development site.

At the council’s request, the development application also included reports on proposed stormwater management, along with noise and traffic impact.

Business Geographics Pty ultimately concluded that “a new modern childcare facility at [Churchill] would likely be beneficial to the community by improving childcare choice and amenity”.

The application is in the confirmation period currently, and pending the council’s approval.

Originally published as New modern childcare centre in the works for Churchill as childcare demand increases