The Greek Orthodox Church at Gymea has joined the rush to provide more childcare places in the area.
A development application (DA) has been lodged for a new, two-storey, 60-place childcare centre, next to St Stylianos Church, on the corner of Kingsway and Hotham Road.
The DA for the project. which has an estimated construction cost of $2.65 million, also includes a new two- storey church administration building.
Three old houses on the church’s property would be demolished to make way for the new buildings.
The Greek Orthodox Church is following the lead of St Catherine Laboure Catholic Church at Gymea, which converted its hall for a childcare centre, operated by Montessori Academy, in 2015.
DAs for several other childcare centres between Kirrawee and Miranda have also been approved or are still being being assessed by Sutherland Shire Council.
A DA by Sutherland District Trade Union Club (Tradies) for a 138-place facility at Gymea was rejected late late last year.
The DA lodged on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Parish of Sutherland proposed operating hours for the childcare centre of 7am to 6pm.
The DA said there would be no change to the existing church building or staff numbers in the reconstructed church administration building.
Existing church community group uses on the site would continue.
The DA said the rear car park containing 48 spaces would be reconfigured, but no extra parking would be provided on site.
The childcare centre would not operate during church service times, and the peak parking demands generated by it and the church’s community groups would not coincide, the DA said.
“A separate child care drop or pick up zone is not required or proposed,” the DA said.
The DA said the proposed development would have positive social and economic effects.
They included delivering childcare facilities “to contribute to meeting the high demand across the region with some areas currently experiencing lengthy waiting lists for child care places”.