Holli Walsh is set to return to work from maternity leave next month, but a "crazy" lack of spaces means she still hasn't been able to lock in a childcare centre for her son, Edward.
Ms Walsh placed Edward on the waitlist for multiple childcare facilities in Wagga Wagga while he was still in utero.
A year later, the wait for an opening has dragged on and she has begun to worry about her options.
"It's just daunting not having a plan together and now coming up so close to when I'm meant to be starting up work," Ms Walsh said.
"I've got a few friends with young bubs and they're all in the same situation.
"They've all been on waiting lists since they were pregnant and they're still waiting."
Despite the demand, Wagga Wagga's council has rejected development proposals for two separate childcare centres in the past 15 months.
Both centres were compliant with council's planning rules and slated for approval, but were knocked back due after opposition from neighbours.
Ms Walsh said the additional childcare centres and workers would take the pressure off the city's "massive waiting lists".
Residents rally against proposals
On Monday, Wagga Wagga councillors considered a proposal for a two-storey facility at Turvey Park, in the city's centre, which would have provided spaces for 46 children.
The developer, Darren White, said it would help meet the "great need" for more child care in the city and council staff recommended it be approved.
"I'm sure the many, many families that are currently unable to access an early education service for their kids … will appreciate an approval," Mr White said.
But the council had received nearly 50 submissions, mostly from neighbouring residents, who opposed the development and argued it would cause increased traffic and noise.
During the meeting, resident Anne Wild said the modern building proposed for the centre wouldn't suit the character of the area.
"The objection is not a case of 'not in our neighbourhood' … the proposed site is a very unsuitable location," Ms Wild said.
Councillors debated for nearly two hours, but ultimately rejected the proposal due to the concerns.
A separate proposal for a 79-place centre in Wagga Wagga's south was similarly rejected due to community opposition in February last year.
Council would 'embrace' more childcare centres
The council's general manager Peter Thompson said the result would not deter future proposals for childcare centres.
He said developers would take into account the recent refusals, but it would be unlikely discourage them.
"Whenever there's demand for childcare in the area there will be developers that want to cater to that demand," Mr Thompson said.
"We would embrace … any developer that would like to establish new childcare centres within the city.
"But they need to go through a planning process and at the end of that planning process they need to obtain a development consent."
He said the applicants of both childcare projects were encouraged to update and resubmit their applications.
