Flooded childcare centre opens new facility

The Munro Centre – destroyed by floods in January 2011 – has opened its new purpose-built childcare centre in St Lucia.

After being severely damaged when the Brisbane River flooded low-lying areas of The University of Queensland campus, the Munro Centre was housed temporarily while a new childcare facility was built on higher ground, on the corner of Dell and Carmody Roads.

The University owns the privately-operated facility. UQ Chancellor Mr John Story and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj officially opened the new centre.

Director of UQ Property and Facilities Alan Egan, whose team oversaw the construction, said the opening was a great opportunity to bring the community together to mark a milestone in the recovery from the 2011 natural disasters.

“The new facility has allowed for an increase in places from 30 to 52,” Mr Egan said.

“It is closer to the University and public transport than the previous building, and will be out of the reach of future floods.

“The University wanted the new centre to help meet the neighbouring community’s childcare needs, not just those of UQ.”

For the launch, the Munro Centre held a barbecue, bake stall, children’s clothing stall, raffle, book sale, face painting and guided tours, and children were encouraged to leave their hand prints on the welcome sign.

Munro Centre (Nominated) Supervisor Sue Wakem said rebuilding after the floods and now the completed new centre had brought a renewed community spirit to staff and families.

“Being a community centre, you put so much of yourself into what you do,” Mrs Wakem said.

“Once it was decided that the old centre had to be demolished and that UQ was going to see to our needs, we could relax a little,” she said.

“As educators, we learn to be flexible and creative. We know that to provide a quality child care service, it doesn’t matter what the walls look like, it’s what happens inside those walls that counts.”

Media: UQ Communications, Caroline Bird 07 3365 1130 or c.bird1@uq.edu.au