Construction of a new purpose-built early education childcare centre in the Wooing Tree Estate is projected to begin this year.

Childcare education provider BestStart has a conditional contract to purchase a site within the commercial hub at the entrance to Wooing Tree Estate in Cromwell.

This will come as good news for the many working families in the area who have reported struggling to find spaces for their pre-schoolers, with some centres operating 18 month waiting lists. 

Brook Carr, of Brook Carr Building, says a new employee who recently returned from Australia left after three months due to a lack of available childcare.

“The guy wanted to stay, he’s from Oamaru, but knows Central really well and loves the area.

“He was gutted to have to leave, but he said the [childcare] waiting lists were crazy.”

The new centre will cater for up to 82 preschoolers aged from three months to six years old and will employ as many as 14 teachers and support staff. 

Fiona Hughes

“We are very excited to be joining this wonderful community and look forward to welcoming Cromwell whānau to our centre very soon,” BestStart deputy CEO Fiona Hughes said. 

There is a mix of early childhood education in Cromwell including privately owned centres

and home-based educators for babies to school-aged children, and kindergarten for children

aged two to five years old.

Wooing Tree Estate development manager Stephen Cornwall said good employment opportunities, good schooling and great proximity to a wider range of recreational activities has attracted strong interest from families with young children looking to relocate to Cromwell from other areas. 

But the shortage of childcare options has been a concern for some.

Stephen Cornwall said the new childcare centre will make an enormous difference to many new families moving into the area

Check The Central App for all Education providers within our district here.