Morningside residents have been opposing several proposals for childcare centre developments in the area.
After a meeting held near the site for a proposed childcare development at 163 Richmond Rd, 39 submissions from the residents were received by the council indicating mixed opinions for the proposal. Whilst some of the residents support the proposal, the majority of the submissions oppose the development due to traffic and safety concerns.
Another application for a childcare centre development at 2 Richmond Rd is being opposed by residents for the same reasons.
Shayne Sutton, Former Councillor for Morningside had opposed the latter development application after its submission in 2017 and said that it is unacceptable. It has been requested to be scaled back since the plans for the 13-metre high, four storey building are in a three-storey zone with a 9.5-metre limit. Also, the plans do not include a required 5-metre dedicated space for a planned bikeway.
Oversupply of Childcare Centres
Aside from these two proposals, three more childcare centres were proposed in the area. These are located at 83 Thynne Rd, Morningside; 52 Junction Rd, Morningside; and 527 Old Cleveland Rd, Camp Hill. That makes a total of five childcare centres being proposed in the area that will deliver 485 extra spaces.
In a recent study conducted by Urban Economics and commissioned by the Australian Childcare Alliance Queensland (ACA Qld), there is an oversupply of childcare in Queensland.
According to the study, there are currently 156 proposed, approved, ang under construction childcare centres in Queensland. Once completed, these centres will deliver approximately 16,600 additional places. Only 33,000 additional places are required in the state between 2016-2036 and currently, there are already 27,729 available places in Queensland. If all the pending childcare centres will be built, the total capacity of childcare centres will exceed the 20-year projection by 34 percent.
With this, the ACA Qld recommended that the Council carefully analyse the need for new facilities, its impact on the community, and the implications for the occupancy rates.