The Bungendore CWA hall could soon share its site with a community preschool. Photo: Suzanne Blair.
Further details of plans to expand a regional town’s preschool have been revealed as the project moves ahead.
Bungendore Preschool was operating from a site on Turallo Terrace, owned by St Mary’s Parish, but was left without a permanent home after lease negotiations fell through.
In recent months, it has been working with the town’s CWA to subdivide the latter’s block on Gibraltar Street, with plans to move into the new site at the end of next year if given the green light.
The proposal, lodged with Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) in late September, would bring a facility offering 60 spaces to Bungendore.
According to documents lodged with the development application (DA), the development has an estimated $1,736,000 price tag.
Bungendore Preschool also received a $1.6 million NSW Department of Education capital works grant in 2023, which would be used to cover the cost of a new building.
The preschool would be open during school terms, for children aged between three and five years.
“The preschool development is comprised of a single level building with internal activity areas, various staff and office spaces, a kitchen/meals area, storage rooms, toilet amenities, and outdoor play areas,” the documents state.
“A variety of activities appropriate to the age group will be provided throughout the day. These activities involve indoor activities, structured learning, and outdoor play.”
The new preschool would be built towards the rear of the block.
The subdivision would see the block split into a 360 sqm section (for the hall) and a 1606 sqm block (for the preschool).
These proposed sizes mean the plans come with a request for an exemption to QPRC’s policy around block sizes.
“[The] CWA hall is heritage listed and it is desirable that any future development is located at a distance from the hall and separated from the hall [because of the subdivision],” the DA documents state.
“This smaller block will allow for the development of the preschool [on the larger block], whilst offering ongoing protection to the CWA hall.”
Under the DA, six trees would also be removed from the site, while seven would be left in place.
There would be 16 carparks (including one accessible space), which parents could access through a new concrete carpark.
“The driveway is two-way and will allow for cars to enter and leave the site in a forward direction,” the DA documents state.
“The driveway will be to the left of the CWA Hall and will lead to a carpark tucked behind the CWA building.”
A traffic assessment argues that the proposed preschool would have minimal impacts on traffic in the area.
“The proposed development will generate additional but low levels of trips throughout the day,” the DA documents state.
“It is expected that these trips can be accommodated at nearby intersections without affecting intersection performance or increasing delays and queues.”
There would also be space set aside for six bike spaces in the development.
The traffic assessment also notes the nearest bus stop (near Bungendore Park) is about 150 metres away from the CWA hall, while the site is assessed as being ‘somewhat walkable’ with a score of 56 out of 100.
A noise assessment found that the use of a 1.8 metre to 2.1 metre fence around the site would help prevent disturbances to nearby residences.
According to the preschool’s website, it is licensed to operate a 39-place preschool within the NSW Department of Education term dates.
Its operations are expected to be unchanged through 2026.
The DA, given the application ID DA.2025.0435, is currently under assessment by the council.
