By JONATHON HOWARD
A DEVELOPMENT proposal to build a childcare centre and several new shops on Warwick’s south side has opened for public comment.
Residents can now have their say on the proposed Bracken Rd and Homestead Rd development until 17 May.
The proposal was lodged by N.B. Beggs Pty Ltd with the Southern Downs Regional Council during August last year, but required further impact studies including a Main Roads impact and engineering report which were carried out and submitted several weeks ago.
The 10,000 square metre block was purchased by N.B. Beggs Pty Ltd with the intent of providing services to south Warwick.
Project manager Nicola Beggs said she was pleased the project was progressing and that it could create more than 30 full-time and part-time jobs.
“Our initial investigation of development feasibility and consultation of the new town plan shows that the southern side of Warwick has been identified as the most probable area for future urban expansion,” Miss Beggs said.
“We aim to provide a convenience centre for the areas of Cinema Heights, Rosenthal Heights to the western side of the New England Highway and the new Sovereign Downs Estate.
“We also felt the proposed site was also strategically positioned to provide a childcare facility and services to employees of the industrial estate as well as a convenience centre to cater for larger events at Morgan Park.”
Miss Beggs said she hoped to provide conveniences on the southern side of Warwick and not detract from Warwick’s CBD.
“We believe that it is crucial the centre of Warwick remains the business centre of town and we don’t fragment the CBD with large-scale shopping centres,” she said.
“But we feel to enable the city to expand, residents need small scale neighbourhood centres which provide them with these services.
“We have received interest from a number of individuals.
“We envisage the type of tenancies in this centre to be a small-scale convenience shop that caters for more emergency purchases such as bread and milk, a bakery, a takeaway, a real estate and other small service oriented businesses.”
Miss Beggs said they already had a number of interested parties including a café, real estate office, bakery and a hairdresser.
“I would be interested in talking to local business people who may be interested in tenancies – especially if complimentary to existing local businesses as secondary outlets,” she said.
“We have also spoken with a franchise group regarding the convenience shop.”
The proposed childcare centre site is approximately 2190 square metres which includes 15 car parks and indoor and outdoor play areas.
The childcare centre would be large enough to cater for 70 or more children.
“If you live on the southern side of town you have to drive into Warwick for childcare, so I do believe that there are enough families in this catchment area that would benefit from a centre.”
