There will be 232 new childcare places if two new centres are approved by Central Coast Council.
One of the centres, for 112 children, is being planned on a vacant lot adjoining bowling greens at the 23ha Mingara recreation complex and athletics centre on Wyong Rd, Tumbi Umbi.
Mingara Leisure Group wants to establish the day care centre for all age groups up to five with two ground-level buildings connected by covered walkways, a central piazza and separate outdoor play areas for different age groups.
There will be 27 staff and the centre will operate weekdays 6am to 6pm, except public holidays, for 52 weeks in the year.
The childcare centre will round-off the facilities available at the Mingara site with a recreation club, aquatic and fitness centre, bowling greens and the regional athletics centre.
A five-storey hotel development was recently approved next to the main club building.
The proposed Nature Academy at Jilliby
Another centre with 120 childcare places is being proposed as part of Warner Industrial Park at 725 Hue Hue Rd, Jilliby.
It is envisaged to be built as part of stage 1A of the already approved five-stage industrial subdivision which is bounded by Kiar Ridge Rd, Hue Hue Rd, Sparks Rd and the M1.
Construction of stage 1A preliminary infrastructure is almost complete and is expected to be registered within a month.
The single-storey childcare centre will cater for a maximum of 120 at one time, in groups of 24 babies (up to 24 months), 40 toddlers and 56 pre-schoolers.
There will be 26 staff during the weekday operating hours of 6am to 7pm.
Development applications for both proposed childcare centres – Mingara 1969/2023 and Jilliby 1789/2023 – can be viewed on Central Coast Council’s website and public submissions will be received up to 5pm on Friday, November 10.
Sue Murray