Child Care Lightning Ridge

Needs Analysis

Lightning Ridge 2834 is served by 3 child care centres for an estimated 156 children under 5 — around 2.7 children per long day care place. See how local fees, occupancy and supply gaps compare with Rest of NSW.

Updated September 21, 2026 3 Centres Pop: 1,984
Centres map & directory

Child care centres

Explore centres on the map, filter by type, then review the directory below.

Id Name Type Places Approval Distance (Km) Day Rate Availability

* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.

Local supply snapshot

Key metrics

Lightning Ridge compared with Rest of NSW

LDC Providers
LDC Providers
2
1,085
LDC Places
Total LDC Places
58
69,944
Population
Total Population
1,984
2,987,047
Per Place
Persons Per Place
34.2
-
Avg Age
Avg Centre Age
12.5 yrs
14 yrs
0-4 Pop
Population 0-4
156
167,275
Kids Per Place
0-4 Per LDC Place
2.69
2.4
Workforce
Workforce Impact
Low
Standard
School Att
School Attendance
349
-
School Per LDC
School Per LDC Place
6.02
6.1
Avg Fee
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$98
$153
Other
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
0
-

SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:

Approvals Pipeline Childcare development approvals near Lightning Ridge

Childcare development applications on record across the catchment around Lightning Ridge, from lodgement through to determination. Project-by-project detail — addresses, proposed places and status, drawn from council DA / planning registers — is in the full approvals register on this page.

Development approvals is a new addition to AreaSearch. We’re actively expanding council coverage and refining the dataset — details and statuses for some councils may be partial. Check back regularly for the latest pipeline.
Childcare approvals
8
In the local catchment
Proposed places
201
Where disclosed
Under assessment
1
Awaiting determination
Determined
3
Approved or decided

Most recent projects

  • Approved

    Demolition, Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure, Early Education and Care Facility,…

    Lodged Oct 2025
  • Approved

    Centre based childcare

    Lodged Jun 2023

Free accounts see the two most recent projects above. Sign in or go Pro to unlock the full approvals register on this page — search by address or DA number, filter by status, council and project scale. Data is drawn from council DA / planning registers.

SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.

Lightning Ridge Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of Lightning Ridge?
As of our last update on September 21, 2026, there are 3 child care centres in Lightning Ridge. Of these, 2 centres provide Long Day Care with 58 places, and a single centre providing other child care services. The suburb also contains a single school with 349 enrolments.
What population do these centres in Lightning Ridge service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Lightning Ridge as at August 2026 stands at a total of 1,984 people, of this 156 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Lightning Ridge?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Lightning Ridge was assessed as having 1,946 people with 89 of these (4.6%) being children under 5yo. Lightning Ridge has seen 43 new addresses added since this time, which, combined with broader ABS population estimates for resident population, leads us to estimate that Lightning Ridge has experienced population growth of approximately 38 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Lightning Ridge compare to those in Rest of NSW?
In Lightning Ridge, our latest analysis shows there are 2.7 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is somewhat higher than the 2.4 children per place across Rest of NSW.
How do childcare fees in Lightning Ridge relate to those in Rest of NSW?
Childcare fees in Lightning Ridge average $98, which is noticeably lower than the regional average of $153 in Rest of NSW.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Lightning Ridge and Rest of NSW?
In Lightning Ridge, there are 6 students per LDC place. This figure is about the same as the 6.1 students per LDC place in Rest of NSW.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in Lightning Ridge?
The average LDC in Lightning Ridge was approved 12.5 years ago, while across Rest of NSW the typical centre approval is 14 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for Lightning Ridge?
No, daily workforce activity is considered low in this area and is unlikely to be a significant driver of child care demand.
Who would typically use analysis such as this?
Childcare operators, developers, investors and financiers would typically conduct a thorough child care supply and demand analysis (SDA) on Lightning Ridge before allocating the significant amount of capital required. Boundary-based analysis such as this is often used as an initial guide however, and analysis would be undertaken on the specific site adopting a radial, travel time, or custom catchment to take into account nearby competition and demand drivers that would influence a centre's performance.

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