Australian Childcare Solutions third bid to build in Orange tested

Australian Childcare Solutions has undertaken a redesign of a recently submitted proposal for the construction of a childcare centre in Orange, New South Wales. The company has lost two previous cases in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court, in relation to a 124-place centre in the town.

The previous plans, which were taken to Court, were rejected by the Council, and subsequently upheld by the court, because the development was deemed “too bulky” for the site, and not in keeping with the character of the street, local news source the Central Western Daily reported. 

The previous iterations of the development are said to have been strongly contested by residents, who subsequently raised their concerns with local councillors. 

The latest development application includes a redesign to move the centre further from the street; to have a more “house like” appearance; play equipment no longer features at the front of the building; and, significantly, a reduction in the number of licenced places, which was cut by 30. 

The Central Western Daily reports Australian Childcare Solutions Director David Roberts as saying the court proceedings were a first for the company in 15 years of operation, and that the company had addressed all the concerns raised by the Court in the most recent version of the design. 

Both Mr Roberts and Development Director Darren Jonsson said there was demand for additional childcare services in Orange, with Mr Jonsson saying Orange was adding 40 children to the zero – four year age group each year, while there were 350 children already waiting for care in the area. 

The Orange City Council has yet to review the revised application. 

To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.