Sunshine Coast childcare centres: Brisbane company’s bid for Moffat Beach development

A Brisbane-based developer has revealed traffic and parking plans for a childcare centre proposed for a residential Caloundra street. See the plans.

A Brisbane developer has revealed plans to open a 115-space childcare centre in a residential area at Moffat Beach.

Parking and traffic plans were revealed after Griffith Group lodged applications with Sunshine Coast Council for approval for a childcare centre at 29 and 29A Queen St, Moffat Beach.

The development was proposed for the low density residential area at the intersection of Queen St and Maltman Street North.

It would cater to 115 children and have 20 staff, with a three-storey building, including a basement level, proposed.

Q Traffic director Richard Quinn prepared a traffic report for Griffith Group which said access would be via a single driveway on Maltman St North to maximise separation from the Queen St intersection.

Brisbane-based development company Griffith Group has lodged a development application with Sunshine Coast Council to build a 115-space childcare centre at Moffat Beach.

“The proposed access driveway will be positioned approximately 40m from the Queen St intersection,” Mr Quinn said.

“This substantially exceeds the minimum separation requirement … of six metres from the tangent point of an intersection.”

The proposal for 33 car parks fell short of the Sunshine Coast Council’s planning scheme requirement of 1 space per employee and one per five children enrolled, under which the project would need 43 spaces.

“Application of (those rates) results in suggested parking provision of 43 parking spaces, which equates to a parking rate of approximately one space per 2.7 children,” Mr Quinn said.

An outdoor play area at the proposed childcare centre at Queen St, Moffat Beach.

“The level of onsite parking provision is considered to be extremely excessive and unwarranted.”

Mr Quinn said other states required parking of one space per four children.

He referenced a New South Wales guide with that rate which Mr Quinn said was commonly referenced by traffic professionals in Queensland.

In Brisbane the parking rate was one space per five children, Mr Quinn’s report added, and the Gold Coast’s was one space per four children.

“Importantly, council recently approved a childcare centre on the site at 57-61 School Rd, Maroochydore, which provides 125 spaces and 37 parking spaces, representing a parking supply of one space per 3.38 children.”

He said the proposed 33 spaces at a rate of one space per 3.48 children was “more than adequate”.

Mr Quinn said the centre was likely to have peak traffic periods of between 7am and 9am and 3pm and 6.30pm.

Griffith Group has lodged plans for a contemporary childcare centre at Queen St, Moffat Beach.

The morning peak hours were expected to generate 76 additional trips and afternoon 55.

Sunshine Coast-firm Project Urban submitted a planning report on Griffith Group’s behalf.

It said the project would be of an “interesting” and “contemporary” design in a low density area however it was near medium to high density housing.

The centre would feature seven rooms, outdoor play areas, a kitchen and sleep rooms.

Griffith Group has lodged an application for a childcare centre at Moffat Beach.

The report said the project was appropriate for the low density zone “because it would directly serve the day to day needs of the community”.

An Economic Needs Assessment report prepared by Location IQ said there was an undersupply of 144 full time equivalent childcare spaces within the area.

It would be the company’s third child care centre at the Sunshine Coast, with other developments at Maroochydore and Brightwater.

The development was impact assessable, so residents will get the opportunity to have their say.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast childcare centres: Brisbane company’s bid for Moffat Beach development