Plans for 60-place childcare centre in Shellharbour

CatholicCare proposes to transform a community meeting space on the ground floor of the All Saints Catholic Church in College Place into a new childcare centre.

Application documents lodged with Shellharbour City Council state the centre will, if approved, offer a maximum of 60 places for children aged two to five, cared for by 12 staff.

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"We're delighted to announce CatholicCare plans to provide a new long day care service for working families in the Shellharbour LGA, pending government approvals," director Michael Austin said.

"There is a highly compelling evidence base that investment in early years education has a profound impact on the positive life trajectories of children throughout their lives."

CatholicCare identified a need for more long day care facilities in the Shellharbour local government area and subsequently formed its proposal for the new centre.

The organisation said the area was experiencing continuing residential growth, with the number of residents expected to jump by 24,385 - including 1522 zero to four-year-olds - between 2016 and 2041.

CatholicCare operated out-of-hours school care in the region, Mr Austin said, so the childcare centre was an extension of the services it already provided.

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Pending the required approvals, CatholicCare plans to open the centre early next year.

"We will open up an expression of interest in September for families looking to secure a placement," Mr Austin said.

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