When construction finishes, the Little Wonders Early Education Centre on Avocet Drive in Estella will be permitted to open from 8am to 5pm for up to 43 children on Saturdays.

The centre will also be allowed to open for up to 87 children between the hours of 6am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Estella resident Jill Rake, whose property is one of five adjoining the future childcare centre site, spoke against the Saturday operating hours at last night's council meeting.

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"We love to have family and friends around to catch up on weekends. If these extended hours are approved this will no longer be our sanctuary," she said.

"In our original submission we stated that we were not opposed with operating hours Monday to Friday. We do not know of any centre that is open on Saturdays.

"It is purely a money making decision. The hours of operation should not adversely affect the amenity of surrounding properties."

North Wagga resident Fiona Ziff spoke after Mrs Rake whom she said had asked her to support her cause by making a speech at the meeting.

Ms Ziff acknowledged that she had no personal ties to the future childcare centre or its proposed operating hours.

"I find it very unfortunate that council does not give residents the opportunity to deliberate over a round table ... In this manner the childcare centre and residents are pitted against one another," she said.

Little Wonders owner Keely Hancock, who also operates a childcare centre in Turvey Park, told councillors her business was not about the money but about the children.

She said there was a need for a childcare centre to cater for parents who worked on Saturdays, and that the proposal for weekend operating hours had been left off the original development application in 2020 by mistake.

"In regards to privacy obviously we will have landscaping, we will have tall fences. The children will be at least a metre away. They have playground equipment to play on. There shouldn't be any issues with that," she said.

Councillor Paul Funnell spoke in support of Mrs Rake and Ms Ziff's arguments against allowing the new Little Wonders to open on Saturdays.

"I would say as a majority we are a Monday to Friday society. Five properties surround this thing ...They deserve the right to live on their block in their castle," he said.

"Until Australia turns around and says Saturday and Sunday are not hallowed time."

Councillors Tim Koschel, Kerry Pascoe, Dallas Tout, Greg Conkey, Vanessa Keenan and Dan Hayes voted to allow the centre to operate on Saturdays.

Councillors Funnell and Yvonne Braid voted in opposition.

Councillor Rod Kendall vacated the chamber during the debate and vote after declaring a significant, non-pecuniary interest.