Families laying down roots in Waraba will soon have access to a new local early learning centre, with Little Locals set to establish its latest centre at Lilywood Landings.
The early learning provider will be the operator of the new city’s first child care centre, creating a place where local children and families can connect, learn, and grow close to home.
Construction of the new centre is expected to commence shortly with Little Locals anticipating welcoming its first children in the second half of 2027.
Little Locals Director Campbell Knox said the company was attracted by Waraba’s long-term potential and the opportunity to become part of a community from its earliest stages.
“Little Locals is about being local to the area and really focusing on building a great brand reputation in each of those communities,” Campbell said.
“Our centres are led by local teams, with centre managers and staff typically living close to the communities where they work. We want to focus on our little patch and have a great reputation in our community.”
That local connection helps each centre build relationships with nearby families and businesses, while giving teams the flexibility to shape activities around the community they serve.
Lennium Group Development Director Ian Worthington said the planned centre would add an important service for families choosing to make Lilywood Landings and Waraba home.
“Creating a new community is about more than delivering new homes,” Ian said.
“Families need access to the services that support everyday life, and having early learning available close to home will be an important part of building a connected community.”
Lilywood Landings families can expect that same local approach to shape the experiences offered at the new centre, with activities reflecting the interests, opportunities, environment and character of the surrounding community.
Little Locals has long worked with local providers to offer activities ranging from music, arts and crafts, and languages through to outdoor experiences and opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture and art across its centres.
“These incursions are a mixture of fun and play, as well as a bit of education. Little Locals is known for its Bush Kindy program, and that’s certainly something we are also excited to grow in the Lilywood Landings centre.”
The approach is designed to give families more than a place for their children to spend the day, creating opportunities for children to explore new interests, build relationships and experience the community they are growing up in.
“Engaging an early learning provider from the beginning was an essential step in the growth of Lilywood Landings and Waraba,” Ian said.
Little Locals first expressed interest in Lilywood Landings site several years ago, before the first home had been built, reflecting its long-term confidence in Waraba’s future.
“Our commitment to it was before there was even one house,” Campbell said.
“Little Locals is as much about growing with and nurturing the communities our centres exist in, as it is helping local children and their families grow.”
As Waraba continues to take shape, Little Locals will become part of the growing community around Lilywood Landings, giving local families another important service close to home as the new city grows.