There has been a severe shortage of childcare in Lismore since the 2022 big flood wiped many centres out.

In June 2024, the lack of childcare places was highlighted when Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Angie Bell hosted young mothers and two Early Childhood and Care providers in Goonellabah.

It was said that mothers who try and register their children in an appropriate facility while pregnant still have to wait 12 to 18 months for their children to be accepted.

The shortage is about to change in Goonellabah; however, it is a long way from solving the crisis.

First Steps on Rous Road was under construction for much of 2024 following council DA approval and is now in service.

Its $1.7 million construction has created a wonderful 98-place childcare centre in Goonellabah.

The next Goonellabah childcare offering has had a lot of the community talking as land was cleared and ready for construction to start at the Simeoni Drive site next to the Aldi supermarket.

The development application (DA) has been approved, and now the owners are waiting for the construction certificate approval from Lismore City Council.

When complete, the $2.9 million two-storey childcare centre will have room for 140 children and 48 car parking spaces at the back of the block with associated landscaping and operate from 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday with 23 staff on site.

The facility will have a shade cloth-covered sandpit, slide and fort, balance beam, mud kitchen, bike track and climbing pole, as well as stepping stones throughout the childcare centre.

The entrance and exit of the childcare facility will be shared with Aldi shoppers.

(Aldi on the left and Coles to the right of the new childcare centre on Simeoni Drive, Goonellabah)

Whilst the new childcare centres will not solve the shortage problem across Lismore, it will shorten the waiting list.