By Tyler Wright
A new privately-owned childcare centre is currently being built at 392 Belgrave-Gembrook Road Emerald after Covid-19 related delays proved a setback for its opening.
Little Gems Early Learning Emerald director Liz Falcone said the build commenced roughly a year ago was due to be completed in August, but has been pushed back to an unclear date.
“It’s looking like it’s close, but it’s not quite there,” Liz said.
The decision to expand the Little Gems Early Learning Centre to Emerald came after the opportunity arose and the family-operated centre wanted to increase its capacity.
Liz also said said the demand for childcare in the area is “very, very high”.
“We have families that are waiting to go back to work from maternity leave and they’ve been waiting all year. They just can’t go back to work properly, because they have no care arrangements,” Liz said.
“We have 150 on our waiting list over two centres; so once our Emerald centre opens up, it will create some space with our Gembrook centre because some families will move over, which will then allow some Gembrook families to come in to Gembrook centre and get back to work.”
When the Little Gems Early Learning Centre does open in Emerald, it will operate from 6:30am to 6:30pm five days a week and will be closed on public holidays.
“We would like it to feel like another home for our children, so really natural colors and natural feel. Nothing too overwhelming in terms of visual, but just very muted and natural tones to fit into our environment and our philosophy around our natural environments,” Liz said.
Despite the Emerald centre not currently operating, Little Gems Early Learning is accepting enrollment forms.
“When we know an opening date, we’ll be in contact with those people and see if they still want the same care; if they still would like the same days or if they need to change that – so that’s the way we’re managing our wait list,” Liz said.
Planning Permit T160422 was issued for the use and development of the land for a Childcare Centre, vegetation removal and creation of an access to a road in a Road Zone Category 1 at 392 Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Emerald, a Cardinia Shire Council spokesperson told the Star Mail.
The endosed plans were issued in May 2018.
