Application lodged to allow Saturday trading at vacant ECEC site
Application lodged to allow Saturday trading at vacant ECEC site
Jul 08, 2025
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A proposal to extend the operating days of a previously approved early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in Bli Bli, Queensland, has been lodged with Sunshine Coast Council, potentially paving the way for expanded access to early learning in a fast-growing community.
The development application, submitted in early July, seeks to amend existing planning conditions to permit operations on Saturdays, in addition to the already approved Monday to Friday schedule. The proposed hours for Saturday trading would mirror weekday operations from 6.30am to 6.30pm offering a full day of care to support families needing more flexible arrangements.
The site in question, located on Whitecross Road, received development approval in 2021 for the construction and operation of a childcare centre as part of a broader residential and community development. While the building was approved for construction, the centre remains unoccupied and has yet to commence operations.
The details were first reported by Sunshine Coast News, which confirmed the development application was lodged with Council in early July.
According to planning documents, the amendment does not involve any changes to the approved centre design, layout or licensed capacity. The applicant emphasised that there are no immediate plans to begin trading on Saturdays; however, the flexibility to do so in future would give potential operators the ability to meet evolving community needs.
“This application is intended to ensure future operators are not constrained by unnecessary limitations, particularly in responding to the needs of working families or those with non-standard work hours,” the application notes.
The request comes amid growing demand for diverse ECEC models that better align with modern family dynamics, including weekend and extended-hour services. While such models are not yet widespread, there is an increasing recognition that flexible care options including occasional care, weekend sessions and early or late pick-up times can play a role in supporting family wellbeing and workforce participation.
Local planning frameworks allow for such changes to be considered through a minor change application, provided the proposal does not result in increased traffic, noise or other impacts beyond what was originally assessed. In this case, the applicant asserts that Saturday operations will not materially affect the centre’s impact on surrounding properties, as the facility has been designed to manage typical ECEC operational needs.
Sunshine Coast Council is currently assessing the application, which is open to community feedback as part of its standard development assessment process.
Bli Bli is one of several growing suburbs in the Sunshine Coast region experiencing significant residential development and infrastructure investment. As population increases, so too does the need for accessible and flexible early learning options to support young families.
If approved, the amended conditions could enhance the viability of the unoccupied site, making it more attractive to future operators and potentially accelerating its activation to serve the local community.
