The newly-built Boggabri childcare centre is set to be a 'game changer' for local families, and many are already signing their children up ready for when it opens.
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ACM spoke to service provider Nurruby Childcare Services' manager/director Prue Jamieson, who said the facility was "absolutely beautiful" and had "everything anyone could ever want".
She said many Boggabri families were filling out an expression of interest form ready for when the centre was open.
She said at this stage the April 2021 date should still be accurate.
"The building is ready and we've just got to licence it and that's up to the departments on how long that takes," Ms Jamieson said.
"It's just got to have a complete fit-out in terms of resources and equipment and we've got to staff it which will happen in the new year."
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Ms Jamieson took a tour of the facility alongside the local advisory committee recently, and was very impressed by what she saw.
"It's architecturally designed in line with all of our regulations and best practice so it's absolutely beautiful inside and will be an absolute pleasure to work in," she said.
Nurruby is now working on applying for grants to help offset the cost of the fit-out.
"We're a community-based non-profit, so we need to access grants and support for that," Ms Jamieson said.
"We're speaking with [Narrabri Shire] Council, Civeo has donated some money over a couple of years, and then ... you can't apply for these grants without a licence so fingers crossed we get some government funding."
She said Nurruby was very excited about the project.
"It's going to make a huge impact on the town and we really want it to be a community-driven service."
Idemitsu Australia Resources chief executive officer Steve Kovac welcomed the progress of the facility.
"Following a tour of the facility by the local advisory committee, the feedback we have received has been very positive," Mr Kovac said.
"All of us at Idemitsu and Boggabri Coal look forward to the opening of this facility in 2021."