Another two childcare centres slated for Canberra in Tuggeranong and Ngunnawal

Families across Canberra will have access to two more childcare centres if new projects are approved. 

Plans for centres in the Tuggeranong Town Centre and Ngunnawal have been lodged with the ACT government.

The Greenway childcare centre will inhabit a vacant building on Colishaw Street between Lake Tuggeranong the the Hyperdome Shopping Centre if the project gets the green light.

It will cater for 120 children, from babies to preschoolers, and span two levels of the building, taking up 1245 square metres of the 1717-square-metre space.

The building will be upgraded to include nurseries, cot rooms, indoor play areas and an outdoor play area on the ground floor, plus other facilities.

Toddler and preschooler rooms, a dining area and covered and uncovered play areas will be developed on the upper level.

The refurbishment is expected to cost $637,387.

There is a requirement for public toilets in the building. If the application to vary the lease to permit the use of the structure for childcare is approved, existing toilets will be upgraded. 

The proposed childcare centre is expected to “provide a valuable service to local residents”, as stated in the development application.

“This location, adjacent to a major shopping and office precinct area, will present a convenient drop off for parents working and living in the area.

“The centre is a worthwhile reuse of an existing building in the town centre.”

The existing building’s facade will be “dressed up” and a “green strip” installed, according to the document.

A second childcare centre is proposed for the Gungahlin region.

A 115-place centre will be built in Yarrawonga Street, opposite the suburban shops, if a separate development application is approved.

The 887-square-metre space will accommodate babies to preschoolers, subject to a lease variation to enable a childcare centre on the site, at a cost of more than $1.35 million.

The block is currently zoned for residential or non-retail commercial use.

The shop-side location would provide a “convenient drop off for parents”, according to the application.

Plans include a number of nursery and cot rooms, rooms for toddlers and preschools, a common area, a food and craft preparation area and an outdoor play area.

The two proposals are among a string of childcare centres slated for numerous suburbs across the ACT.

In January Hockey ACT lodged plans for two childcare centres on unused parcels of land: one in Lyneham and the other in Greenway at the south-western end of Tuggeranong Hockey Park.