Bernoth approved for new centre

A MAJOR local developer has been given the green light to expand a childcare centre in the Toowoomba CBD.

Barry and Mitchell Bernoth were approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new 44-place centre inside an existing two-storey building on Margaret Street, known as Culzean House.

The new facility would work in conjunction with an existing centre at the rear of Culzean House.

In his assessment report, council planning officer Jayden Forbes-Mitchell said the building was listed as a neighbourhood character place in the council’s planning scheme.

“The proposed childcare centre is intended to operate in conjunction with the existing childcare centre on the premises, however the proposed development is not reliant on existing carparking areas or waste facilities associated with that use,” he wrote.

“The proposed development will involve minor demolition of internal and external components of the neighbourhood character place.”

It comes more than a year after the centre’s expansion was first proposed by the Bernoths, with the council highlighting a number of issues it had with the planned facility.

These included issues with the changes to the neighbourhood character place, stormwater plans, transport and noise impacts.

While he found the proposal didn’t comply with a number of assessment benchmarks, Mr Forbes-Mitchell argued it could be conditioned to meet overall outcomes.

“The proposed development is considered to comply with the purpose and overall outcomes of each respective code where noncompliance was identified or alternatively conditions have been recommended to ensure compliance,” he wrote.