Steve Whan
Member for Monaro

MEDIA STATEMENT

Snowy Mountains Care and Early Learning Centre

Wednesday, 1 May 2024

I've noted online comment on the proposed closure of the Snowy Mountains childcare centre in Jindabyne by its managements committee. It is concerning that some of this comment is misinformed, perhaps even politically motivated misinformation, and I would like to make a few things clear.

I have had several discussions with the centre since I was elected last year, until recently those discussions focussed only on a section of Department of Education-owned land, which the centre wanted on a long-term lease to use as a playground.

I specifically met with the Department of Regional Development and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to ensure the transfer could occur when the Department of Education vacated the land. Unfortunately, until the land was vacated it wasn't possible to make the transfer. I confirmed only recently that, if the childcare centre was still operating, it was the State Government's intention to transfer the playground land.

The day before the recent parents' meeting (that is, only in the last few weeks), I was advised of issues around obtaining a long-term lease from Snowy Monaro Regional Council for the land on which the centre is located.

To be clear, the land the childcare building is on is council-owned and not state government land, but I indicated I was happy to take up this issue with council to ensure certainty.

However, the centre manager advised of an issue securing volunteers to serve in key positions on the board; and as a result, it had been decided, by the board, to close and assist the transition of clients to the new childcare centre. 

I indicated that I was very willing to help with local and state issues if a management committee could be elected and the centre continued to operate. I am not aware if that offer was conveyed to the recent meeting.

I note comment from some suggesting there is a plan initiated by me in "secret" to redevelop the site of the school and childcare centre.

In fact, the Concept Plan for the area was open for public comment late last year and early this year. It is included in the SAP Delivery Plan and many members of the community did comment (hardly secret!).

The Concept Plan did not indicate the childcare centre would be replaced with five-storey buildings (as some have suggested) and it does not put a road through the childcare site, in fact, the draft use includes community and childcare.

I have a lot of sympathy for the many people in the Jindabyne community who have contributed to the childcare centre of the years, particularly those who have raised substantial funds for capital improvements and equipment. Unfortunately, the government can't make people volunteer for management committees and it does not fund the operational aspects of childcare.

I remain more than willing to assist with the issues around land and leases if the committee decides it does have the resources it need (human and financial) to continue.