Central Coast Council looks at streamlining ECEC builds in light of critical shortages 

Central Coast Council’s Economic Development Committee has asked for a report on how development applications for early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities can be streamlined in the face of a critical shortage of licenced places in the region. 

Committee Chair Councillor John McNamara said families were struggling to find suitable placements for their children, impacting their ability to work and support their households, with some development applications taking up to 500 days for approval.

The current backlog in approvals is placing enormous pressure on parents, employers, and the broader community, he continued.

“Our local families are crying out for accessible childcare, yet approvals are taking far too long,”  Mr McNamara said when speaking with Coast Community News.

“Parents are being forced to either reduce their working hours, leave jobs, or travel long distances just to secure a place for their children.”

“The delay in processing childcare DAs is unacceptable, especially when we already have applications submitted and ready to go.”

He described the delay as being an economic and social issue that affects the entire community, one about which the Council needed to act urgently to resolve.

Council currently has about 14 DAs for childcare centres that have a potential to deliver up to 1,400 childcare places per day, and the committee looking into the issue has asked Council’s Acting Director of Environment and Planning to prepare a report on how DAs can be assessed more efficiently.

“Our goal is to find a way to streamline this process so that new childcare centres can open as soon as possible,” Mr McNamara said.

Families should not have to wait years for solutions, he continued, when there are “solutions that are within reach today.” 

“The Central Coast’s growing population and rising workforce participation mean demand for childcare will only continue to increase,” he said.

The committee will work closely with senior Council staff, State Government, and industry (sic.) stakeholders to ensure that childcare infrastructure keeps pace with community needs.

To access the original coverage of this story please see here.