Renewed call for changing planning rules for new ECEC services

ACA NSW has again asked the NSW Minister for Planning (the Hon Anthony Roberts MP) to revise NSW's planning rules for new early childhood education and care services.

Members will recall our past submissions to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment seeking, for example, a minimum separation of at least 500 metres between existing and new early childhood education and care services regardless of residential zones.

That NSW Department had previously, publicly and formally suggested a 200 metre separation alongside other issues under review.

Sadly, the consolidated NSW State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) (SEPP) effectively encourages new early childhood education and care services to be “located at any distance from an existing or proposed early education and care facility” (see clause 3.26(2)(a)).

In stark contrast, this same SEPP requires new schools with 50 or more students to always make an application to Transport for NSW to certify that any impacts on the road network are acceptable or will be acceptable if specified requirements are met (see clause 3.58). This requirement is not imposed on any new early childhood education and care services.

It is worth knowing that NSW currently has 1,660 (ie 48.5% of 3,423) approved long daycare services with capacities of 51 or more children. In fact, NSW also has some of the largest long daycare services with, to date, up to 300 children on the same site/campus.

And although the NSW limit on the number of children per long daycare service was previously 75 per site/campus (subject to other regulatory requirements), such capacity limits were completely removed since 1 January 2012.

ACA NSW also remains concerned about the safety of children during emergencies and evacuations, especially those associated with larger early childhood education and care services as well as those in high-rise buildings.

For any further information/clarification, please do not hesitate to contact ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au. 

PUBLISHED: 15 FEBRUARY 2023