A new child care centre for Boggabri

The much anticipated development of a new Boggabri Child Care Centre will soon begin.

A child care centre has long been actively sought by the Boggabri community to serve local needs and as a key element in attracting and retaining people to live in the town.

Idemitsu Australia Resources has funded construction of the new centre, a move applauded by the community.

Construction is expected to start in mid May and will take about six months.

The child care centre will be built on the corner of Brent and Oakham streets, and will be able to cater for 30 children up to five years of age and about 20 children from six to 12 years old in after school care.

Boggabri residents have long sought the child care centre.

One of the strongest advocates has been former Narrabri Shire Councillor Cath Collyer who, with fellow supporters, argued that Boggabri needed the childcare centre, as well as other vital infrastructure, to be able to grow.

People considering a move to Boggabri looked for the elements of education, health services and child care for their family as a pre-requisite.

There had been a drift of potential residents to Narrabri and Gunnedah where more child care services were available.

The Boggabri Child Care Centre will be administered by Nurruby Children’s Services as the ‘approved provider.’

Nurruby currently operates two services in Narrabri and two in Wee Waa.

“The Boggabri Child Care Centre will provide a long day care service as well as an after school hours service,” said Nurruby director Prue Jamieson.

“This will be a great asset for the Boggabri community,” said Mrs Jamieson. Nurruby will provide the administration.

The Boggabri Centre will also be a significant employer.

The Boggabri Centre will have its own staff complement, probably about six full time staff in the long day care service and two in the out of school hours service.

“We want to employ from the local community and also like to be looking at traineeships.”

A community committee will be formed as an integral part of the successful operation of the centre.

The site is a huge block, with plenty of parking, ideal for the purpose. Idemitsu Australia Resources chief executive Steve Kovac said the company was strongly invested in the Boggabri community and was pleased to be able to support the needs of the community and employees.

“This initiative is strongly supported by Boggabri Coal and aligns with the company’s policy of encouraging its workforce to live locally,” Mr Kovac said.

“Boggabri is a growing and thriving community, with many young families. The consistent feedback we have received from locals is that there is a real need for services to support working families.

“Australia has had a rough start to 2020. I couldn’t think of a better way to give back to the community and help stimulate the local community than the construction of this facility.”