Richmond North Public School has been identified as the preferred site for a new Out of School Hours (OOSH) facility that will serve families across North Richmond, following a partnership between Hawkesbury City Council and the NSW Department of Education.
The development marks a significant shift in direction for the community childcare project, which was originally planned to expand the existing 45-place OOSH service operating from Chas Perry Hall at the North Richmond Community and Youth Centre. Those earlier plans were ultimately halted due to insufficient funding and site limitations associated with the broader redevelopment of the North Richmond Community Precinct.
After further assessment and consultation between Council officers, the Department of Education and Richmond North Public School, the school grounds were identified as a more suitable and practical long-term location. The proposed site is approximately 500 metres from the current facility, allowing continuity of access for families while improving operational capacity.
The new facility will increase provision to a 60-place service, addressing growing demand in the local area. It is also expected to benefit from shared infrastructure already available within the school environment, strengthening integration with existing community and education resources.
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, councillors endorsed a recommendation to allocate $1 million from the Redbank Voluntary Planning Agreement contribution toward the delivery of the project. The funding will be transferred to the NSW Department of Education, which will formally partner with Council to construct and deliver the facility for the North Richmond community.
Further consultation with stakeholders will continue before final design and planning are confirmed. This next stage will also consider any additional service needs and explore options for the remaining $853,243 in voluntary contributions, with future recommendations to be presented back to Council.