City Of Port Phillip Selling 3 Childcare Centres

On Wednesday night, May 18th, the Port Phillip council meeting heard complaints from the presidents of the Elwood Children's Centres, in relation to the proposal to sell the three kindergarten properties.

Claire Byrne, the president of the Tennyson Street Elwood Children's Centre, said: "We had not been consulted prior to the agenda papers." The complaints from the presidents came following an agenda paper sent to each location in early December showing intent to sell each property within the next three years.

Council's reason for sale is due to a lack of disability access and is citing the age of the buildings and their overall maintenance has left them "run-down." Council described the properties as "incurably obsolete."

Each kindergarten looks after 120 kids on a weekly basis, who are said to be "displaced" following the sale of the properties, according to Caroline Thornton, the president of the Eildon Road childcare centre.

The families from these childcare centres were surveyed in January with 41% stating that a change to another kindergarten, many of which are upwards of $30 extra per day, would be a financial burden. The survey further revealed that this burden would make the return to work for many families delayed and, in some cases, one parent may need to postpone their return to work or cut back hours due to cost surges.

Caroline Thornton further outlined the lack of other kindergartens in the 4km radius, referencing the list council published which failed to take into consideration the ability for absorption of the children and the absence of accessible transport.

The kindergartens submitted to the list by council are serviced by older trams which are difficult with one pram and near impossible to fit any form of a double pram, she added.

2022 saw Eildon Road pay more than $110,000 in a maintenance and capital works fund in the 2022 financial year, yet Thornton said she'd "seen little work done."

A private rental assessment on the property conducted in January showed annually the kindergarten would pay $88,000 in rental fees, and due to Australian rental laws under a rental agreement would receive maintenance from their landlord.

Labor MP for Macnamara Josh Burns said: "All council needs to do is reverse its decision, and listen to the centres."

He further added that under a Labor federal government, discussion surrounding viable funding options would take place through shadow minister for Early Childhood Education and Development, Amanda Rishworth.

The Labor party has put forth plans to lower the cost of childcare through a $5.4 billion investment by July 2023.

Steph Hodgins-May, the Greens candidate for Macnamara, said: "I'm proud this community has lifted to the challenge... I would urge council to listen."

The economic costs of the consultation so far are estimated to be approximately $240 thousand.

The outcome on whether the sales will go ahead are yet to be concluded.

In a statement, City of Port Phillip Mayor Marcus Pearl said: "Our Council has not yet made any decision regarding the future of the three childcare centres."

Further meetings and discussions have been scheduled for the future.