Council zeroing in on childcare

Council zeroing in on childcare

Leichhardt Council has identified four sites across Leichhardt, Rozelle and Lilyfield for the construction of two new childcare centres.

The move is a response to the growing need for more childcare in Leichhardt courtesy of a baby boom over the past 10 years.

“It is time that Council stepped up its efforts to meet the needs of local families and improve the childcare services so many local people depend on by ensuring more centres are actually built,” said Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne.

The four sites identified are on Mary St in Leichhardt Park, Darley St and Marion St in Leichhardt, and Hamilton St car park in Rozelle. Each new centre would likely accommodate around 60 children.

Demand for more childcare has steadily been on the rise over the last decade, with the number of children under school age increasing 72 per cent between 1996 and 2011, rising from 2,800 children to 4,800. Children under school age represent around nine per cent of the total population of Leichhardt.

A Council report tabled in February found the 34 existing childcare centres in Leichhardt were running at double capacity and had huge waiting lists. The report found the number of children missing out on childcare was 284 per day, which is expected to increase to 443 per day per day by 2021.

But Labor Councillor Simon Emsley said there were more reasons than merely the baby boom for the demand for childcare.

“The increase in household income has pushed the cost of real estate up, so people have got pretty big mortgages that are moving in. Because of the high rent there’s a greater tendency for both parents to want to work which adds to the demand for childcare,” he said.

Council is currently considering three different funding avenues for the construction and running of the new centres.

A Council-constructed and run centre has an estimated cost of $4.8 million over 30 years, while a centre built by Council yet run by private providers would generate an estimated profit of $1.7 million over 30 years. A privately built and run centre would bring in anticipated profits of $2.05 million over the same period.

Greens Councillor Daniel Kogoy said the community preferred the Council-run method. “The feedback I have received is that parents prefer community and council-run centres over the ‘for profits. We must make sure we adhere to the community’s wishes,” he said.

Mr Emsley said Labor also supported the Council-based funding method. “When my kids were growing up I had them in a private centre and the Council centre, and the Council centres were run better and were of a much higher standard,” he said.

Community consultation on the four identified sites begins this week.

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