Somerset Cottage | Frequently asked questions

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Yes. The old Somerset Cottage was within the construction zone of the new 14-storey clinical tower being built as part of Nepean Redevelopment Stage 1.

Childcare staff and children moved in to the new centre on Monday 29 June 2020 following an operational commissioning and accreditation process.

No. There was no disruption to childcare service provision during the construction or transition period.

After a review of multiple options, the NBMLHD endorsed the northern edge of the campus, beside Nepean Private Hospital and behind Tresillian. It was determined that this area was the best location for the new building, which is designed to ensure the safety of children and parents at all times.

There is no land owned by the NBMLHD that is located near hospital that could have been considered for the new child care service. It was a priority for the NBMLHD for Somerset Cottage to remain on the hospital campus. The site that was chosen meets State Planning regulations and Department of Education requirements.

As part of the design process, the project team is working with the relevant experts to design and install the appropriate safety measures for the new centre. Safety is the highest priority of the redevelopment design process. The playground area will be at least two meters away from the edge of campus. The materials used to secure the boundary will be determined during the detail design process and will comply with Safety in Design requirements. Suitable lighting, security cameras and pedestrian pathways will also be installed as part of the Safety in Design requirements.

Yes. The new service, which has capacity for 68 children (the same capacity as the current service), was designed in close consultation with representatives from Somerset Cottage to ensure it would be a secure, contemporary and welcoming space for children from 0 – 5 years of age.

Yes. In addition to staff and parent representation in the project user groups, all parents, children and staff had the opportunity to provide input into the look and feel of the new centre via an online survey and during child focus groups, which was integral to the design.

The project team designed the new centre to fit within the boundaries of the new location, improve the workflow for staff and enhance the experience for children. Some areas such as the indoor play rooms are larger than the old facility while other areas such as the outdoor space are smaller. While the new outdoor space is smaller, it exceeds the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care Facilities guidelines by approximately 15 per cent. It has also been designed to maximise the use of space so the children can continue to enjoy outdoor play in a safe and engaging environment.

No. The architects, who specialise in childcare centres, designed the best outdoor space possible within the site boundaries and budget.

The facility has been designed to allow the NBMLHD to increase capacity of its childcare services if required in future.

The new centre includes seven short stay parking spaces for parents to safely drop off and pick up their children. For longer term parking, Somerset staff and parents will be required use other parking zones on campus.

No. The same number of children will be accommodated in the new location (68 child capacity).

No. The process for applying for a place at Somerset Cottage has not changed. The waiting list for Somerset Cottage will also be carried over to the new child care facility.

No. The redevelopment does not affect Somerset Cottage staffing.

The new facility, budgeted at $7.2 million, was funded from the $576 million allocated by the NSW Government to deliver a major expansion and upgrade of clinical services at Nepean Redevelopment.

Visit www.nepeanredevelopment.health.nsw.gov.au or email the project team HI-nepearedevelopment@health.nsw.gov.au