By Goya Dmytryshchak
Plans for a 111-place childcare centre in a residential street have been lodged with Hobsons Bay council.
Peter English & Associates have applied to build the centre at 18-20 Stapley Crescent, Altona North.
The proposed building would have two levels. A carpark with 24 spaces would serve as a drop-off zone and include staff parking. There would be two outdoor play areas with up to half the children outside at one time during daytime hours.
In a letter to the council, Mr English said a non-residential use in a residential area was appropriate where there was an identified need.
A needs assessment he commissioned concluded there was a shortfall of between 80 and 130 long daycare places in the area.
The proposed centre would have 45 places for children aged up to three years, 33 places for three to five year olds and 33 places for four to five year olds. Hours of operation would be 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday.
Documents submitted with the application state that a NANA’s Early Learning Centre is proposed for the site.
“Programs at NANA’S Early Learning Centre follow the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, a world-renowned teaching and learning philosophy inspired by the system of early years’ education in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy,” documents state.
