| Id | Name | Type | Places | Approval | Distance (Km) | Day Rate | Availability |
|---|
* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.
Key Metrics
West Mackay / Rest of Qld
LDC Providers
4
926
Total LDC Places
302
76,912
Total Population
6,678
2,852,242
Persons Per Place
22.1
-
Avg Centre Age
9.2 yrs
12 yrs
Population 0-4
374
156,634
0-4 Per LDC Place
1.24
2.1
Workforce Impact
Significant
Standard
School Attendance
1,706
-
School Per LDC Place
5.65
5.8
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$145
$152
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
268
-
SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:
Approvals Pipeline
Childcare development approvals near West Mackay
Development applications around West Mackay
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.
CC Approvals
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In the local catchment
Proposed Places
—
Where disclosed
Under Assessment
—
Awaiting determination
Determined
—
Approved or decided
Approvals pipeline
Status, location, timing and project scale
Loading childcare approvals…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Places | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
West Mackay Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of West Mackay?
As of our last update on May 24, 2026, there are 12 child care centres in West Mackay. Of these, 4 centres provide Long Day Care with 302 places, 3 centres provide Out of Hours School Care offering 199 places, 2 centres provide Preschool/Kindergarten with 69 places, and 3 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 3 schools, collectively accommodating 1,706 enrolments.
What population do these centres in West Mackay service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for West Mackay as at May 2026 stands at a total of 6,678 people, of this 374 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for West Mackay?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census West Mackay was assessed as having 6,536 people with 343 of these (5.2%) being children under 5 years old. Given changes in localised population estimates by the ABS we estimate that West Mackay has experienced population growth of approximately 142 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in West Mackay compare to those in Rest of Qld?
In West Mackay, our latest analysis shows there are 1.2 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 2.1 children per place across Rest of Qld.
How do childcare fees in West Mackay relate to those in Rest of Qld?
Childcare fees in West Mackay average $145, which is comparable to the regional average of $152 in Rest of Qld.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in West Mackay and Rest of Qld?
In West Mackay, there are 5.7 students per LDC place. This figure is about the same as the 5.8 students per LDC place in Rest of Qld.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in West Mackay?
The average LDC in West Mackay was approved 9.2 years ago, while across Rest of Qld the typical centre approval is 12 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for West Mackay?
Yes, workforce activity is significant in this area and is likely a key 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 West Mackay 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.
Find & Assess a Centre
Search by name, postcode, or address to explore supply & demand for any child care or school catchment in Australia.
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Nearby suburbs & deeper analysis
What will drive demand from here?
Centre supply and current places are an output, not a leading indicator. For the demand-side drivers of this area — population growth, 0–4 cohort trends, dwelling supply, workforce participation and competing development pipeline — open the relevant deep-dive page.