A child-care centre catering for up to 100 children has received resource consent from the Waitaki District Council.
An Auckland-based company with North Otago directors, Little Wonders Child Care (Oamaru) Ltd, wanted to build the centre on the corner of Nen and Thames St and applied to the council for a land use consent.
After a hearing last month, the council has now granted the application.
The company already has a 50-place centre in Mt Eden, with another 100-place centre to open in Epsom within 18 months.
A 100-place centre was under construction in Cromwell, scheduled for completion in November, and work should begin in November on a same-sized centre in Dunedin, to be completed early next year.
For Oamaru, the company planned a purpose-built, single-storey facility which would blend in with surrounding residences.
It would have four large indoor activity rooms (each with toilets and washrooms), sleeping area, staff room, office, laundry, kitchen-store, staff toilets and reception area.
The maximum staff at any time would be 15, including two cooks and an administrator.
The centre was opposed by Barnardos Early Learning Centre because it was close to two learning centres and a newly-licensed playcentre.
Barnardos was also concerned about the effect of traffic and fumes.
The consent was granted subject to 13 conditions, including the entrances and exits from the site, car parking, noise limits and landscaping.