Now the former Conolly’s flour mill building in Sloane St is destined to become a childcare centre.

Councillors conditionally approved the 76-place facility, play centre and cafe at their most recent meeting. It was granted pending Heritage Council approval for the state significant structure.

However the developer’s architect, Tim Lee, advised that this had been issued but was not included in the report to the meeting.

The go ahead also hangs on a successful application to the Department of Education and Communities to operate the childcare centre.

Part owner John Kelly says this is a mere formality and he doesn’t anticipate any hurdles.

He bought the 3000 square metre building last year with a partner who did not wish to be named.

The company, The Mill Goulburn Pty Ltd, will be the landlord to an existing local childcare centre which is relocating to the site.

Mr Kelly declined to name which one, citing confidentiality.

He said he was simply the developer and neither he nor wife Julie would have a role in running the centre. The couple have owned and operated three childcare facilities in Goulburn over the past 10 years.

Julie Kelly is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to two charges of children in care not adequately supervised and failing to notify of a serious incident at an approved centre. 

The Kelly’s company Southern Star Inn was also charged with leaving a child in premises not as prescribed, failing to notify of a serious incident at an approved service and children in care not adequately supervised.

Goulburn Local Court has heard submissions but on July 30, Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman adjourned sentencing until this Monday. (August 10).

The charges relate to the Starshine Centre in Barry Crescent, which the Kellys have since sold.

Mr Kelly said he and his wife no longer owned any childcare facilities.

But Goulburn Local Court heard recently that Mrs Kelly still operated two.

The 76-place facility, catering for 0-6-year-olds, will occupy the section of the Sloane St building once filled by a bowling alley.

“The playcentre will be something like Monkey Mania in Canberra, which I think Goulburn needs,” Mr Kelly said.

The playcentre will occupy the former skating rink space on the building’s southern aspect and cater for 0 to 10-year-olds.

The developer said he was drawn by the site’s central location, close to major employers like Goulburn Plaza.

“Look at Lady McKell (childcare facility), it’s right in the centre of things...It’s a great spot with plenty of parking,” he said.

“We have a lot of children in Goulburn and if we had more employment, the childcare centres would all be full. The demand is there.”

Mr Kelly said the facility would employ 20 staff, including eight to 10 new workers.

The large car park will be modified to provide 42 spaces and a one-way circulation route from Craig St on to Sloane St.

Council received one public submission after notifying the DA to 15 adjoining and nearby residents.

It raised concerns about compliance with the Building Code of Australia and the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulation.

Mr Lee said additional skylights were included in the design to satisfy the submitter’s issue that there was not enough natural light in the childcare centre.

Council planners said compliance with childcare regulations would be considered as part of the licence application to the Department of Education and Communities.

The building has been vacant for several years, following Goulburn Furniture warehouse’s relocation to Clinton St.

Mr Kelly and his partner are buying the site from Dan Russell with settlement expected this week.

He hoped the centre would be completed by January.