A significant new early childhood facility is on the cards for the Illawarra, with a proposal to build a 79-place Montessori childcare centre on vacant land beside a Lake Heights church.
Development Details and Church Upgrades
The trustees of the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Saint Maron Sydney have lodged a development application with Wollongong City Council. The plan is to construct the new centre on land adjacent to the Our Lady of Lebanon Church on Denise Street in Lake Heights. The existing church will remain operational and is itself slated for improvements as part of the application.
The proposed childcare centre is designed to cater for 79 children, ranging from infants to six-year-olds. It would operate from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The facility will be managed by Montessori Academy, an operator that runs 30 centres across Sydney.
Shared Car Park and Traffic Management
A key feature of the proposal is an underground car park with 30 spaces, to be split evenly between staff and visitors. Access will be controlled via swipe cards, with an intercom system for visitor assistance.
This car park is intended for shared use with the Our Lady of Lebanon Church. The arrangement proposed is that the childcare centre would have exclusive use during its operating hours, while the church would have exclusive use during its events and services, which typically fall outside the centre's hours.
The application also outlines a new driveway off Denise Street, along with three dedicated parking spaces for parish staff and a hearse. Existing pedestrian access will be upgraded to connect to a new outdoor terrace leading to the church.
Enhancements to the Existing Church
Alongside the new childcare build, the application includes substantial upgrades to the church building. These proposed alterations and additions feature a new church hall, a fresh entry foyer, a kitchen, updated bathroom amenities, and a first-floor office.
The development application is currently on public exhibition, allowing community members to review and comment on the plans. The exhibition period is open until December 19, 2025.
If approved, the project would deliver a major new early education service to the Lake Heights community while revitalising the facilities of the longstanding local church.
