New Eastern Shore childcare centre expected to open in March

One of Tasmania’s newest childcare centres is expected to soon open its doors on Hobart's Eastern Shore, after delays to construction.

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ONE of Tasmania’s newest childcare centres is expected to open its doors in March after delays to construction caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

More recently, the site of the Howrah Sunrise Early Learning Centre on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, was also hit by vandals, with two separate break-ins occurring after Christmas.

Some minor damage was reported which was quickly repaired.

But it has prompted the developers to beef-up security at the site, on Tollard Drive, with CCTV cameras and alarm systems.

It was originally hoped that the centre would have opened late last year.

But Graeme Pettit, the director of Tasmanian Child Care Centres which will operate the centre, said the impacts of the pandemic had affected the timing.

Mr Pettit said travel restrictions around Australia during the year had slowed the progress of the build.

“It is one of those projects that has taken a little bit longer — it is a big centre,’’ he said.

“We are now shifting in all our equipment from the mainland into the centre and we’re probably a month away from getting to the stage where we can say we’re open.”

The centre, on 1200 square metres of land, is expected to employ at least 20 staff and cater for up to 129 children once operational.

Mr Pettit said the centre was taking pre-bookings from families ahead of the planned opening.

Tasmanian Child Care Centres operate two other such centres in the state’s south, at Brighton and Lenah Valley.

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