A $2.5 million development application to construct a new two-storey childcare centre in Osborne Park has been submitted to State planning authorities. The proposed facility would be located at the corner of Hutton and Edward streets, on the site of the former Possum Hollow Child Care Centre, which would be demolished to make way for the new building.
Bright Steps Academy to operate centre
The new centre is expected to operate under the Bright Steps Academy brand, a childcare provider founded in New South Wales in 2022. The company also has plans for centres in Mandurah and Kwinana, indicating a growing presence in Western Australia.
Capacity and facilities
Under the current proposal, the Osborne Park centre would accommodate up to 90 children and employ 17 staff members. The building would have a total floor area of 698 square metres, complemented by an outdoor play area of a similar size. Operating hours would be from 6:30 am to 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday, catering to children up to five years old.
Twenty-nine parking bays are planned for the undercroft level of the building. The design also includes provisions for public artwork along the Hutton Street facade, adding a community-focused aesthetic to the development.
Meeting local demand
According to the development application, the proposal is designed to address the needs of the surrounding area, particularly given its proximity to the Osborne Park Industrial Area. The town planners acting on behalf of the owners argue that the centre will provide much-needed services for both residential and commercial populations in the locality.
“The proposed childcare premises on the subject land will continue to cater for the demand for such a service within the locality and provide much-needed services for the residential population and the commercial populations within the immediate locality,” the application states. “Furthermore, the proposed development will replace the existing childcare premises on the land that is rundown and does not meet the modern needs of the children/staff attending the venue.”
Public consultation and approval process
The development application is currently open for public consultation through the City of Stirling, with submissions accepted until June 16. The final decision on the application will be made by the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel, which will evaluate the proposal against relevant planning criteria.
