Concordia Lutheran College lodges plan for early learning, outside school hours care centre on South Street as part of 15-year master plan

A massive new childcare and outside school hours care centre has been planned by a prestigious Toowoomba school, as part of a 15-year master plan.

Concordia Lutheran College has lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new childcare centre and outside school hours care facility on South Street in Harristown, opposite the main campus.

A prestigious private school hopes to start work on a massive childcare and outside hours care centre opposite its main campus, in what is a “key component” of a long-term master plan.

Concordia Lutheran College last week lodged plans with Toowoomba Regional Council for a two-stage facility on South Street in Harristown, which will have a capacity of nearly 210 children at full occupancy.

The 6100 sqm corner block forms part of the school’s Warwick Street campus but is used as a green space and oval currently.

According to the report by Gaskell Planning Consultants, the proposal included a first stage for 132 children, followed by a second stage for an additional 76 students.

Concordia Lutheran College has lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new childcare centre and outside school hours care facility on South Street in Harristown, opposite the main campus.

“In summary, the proposed development will involve a new single-storey child care centre and outside school hours care building, sharing a foyer and carpark,” the report said.

Floor plans show the new project will initially include activity rooms for kindy-aged children and students in outside-school care, as well as four outdoor play facilities for all ages.

Ninety car parks will be provided across the two stages, with a new driveway to built connecting Yaldwyn Street.

The planning report argued the new centre should be approved due to its consistency with the surrounding area and the land’s zoning for “community facilities”.

Concordia Lutheran College has lodged plans with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new childcare centre and outside school hours care facility on South Street in Harristown, opposite the main campus.

“The proposed development is considered to provide a positive contribution and high-quality outcome for Harristown and the surrounding area by meeting the assessment benchmarks and applicable codes of the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme,” the report said.

Specialist reports addressing potential impacts such as traffic, noise, arboriculture, and odour were also lodged.

Concordia Lutheran College's head of college Anton Prinsloo.

The application forms the second step in Concordia’s 15-year master plan announced in 2023, which will see the school consolidate all students onto a single campus.

“The construction of the new early learning centre and OSHC facility at Warwick Street complements the new junior learning centre at Stephen Street, creating a contemporary junior college precinct,” head of college Anton Prinsloo said.

“This consolidation will enhance operational efficiency and provide modern, purpose-built facilities for our students.”

Mr Prinsloo said the school hoped to start construction on the centre by the end of 2025, pending council approval.

“This timeline aligns with our broader master plan schedule, which includes the completion of the junior learning centre (currently under construction) and the transition of operations from the Hume street campus,” he said.

Watcon Building Group is currently building the new junior campus, which will provide jobs to more than 180 workers in Toowoomba.