Parents fear for future of beloved Footscray community childcare centre as council considers lease changes
For mother-of-two Ayeesha Montalti, the Bulldogs Community Children's Centre in Footscray has been a pillar of stability during a turbulent time, acting "as a family" and even supporting her through the loss of her mother three weeks ago.
But last week, the Maribyrnong City Council voted in favour of removing the requirement for the centre to house a not-for-profit childcare provider, allowing for-profit providers to bid for the new lease.
"When I found out about it, I was shocked," Ms Montalti said.
"I found out via an email nearly a week after the council meeting had happened, we had no idea that there was even a discussion to renew this lease."
The council has held the lease with the Western Bulldogs for the facility since 2009, and it has since been tenanted by not-for-profit group Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS).
The current lease expired in April last year, and the Western Bulldogs have requested a new 10-year lease.
The council will now consider new lease terms for the centre and undertake a formal consultation process, including a 28-day public notice period, on the continuation of that lease and its conditions.
Community members have raised concerns that the Bulldogs may prioritise profits over the community. If a for-profit provider does take over, some parents fear they may be forced to withdraw their children due to rising costs.
A petition calling for the centre to remain not-for-profit has garnered more than 600 signatures.
"This is an urban growth area in the inner west, we know there are a few more private centres that are going to open. but demand outstrips supply," Ms Montalti said.
"At community-run centres, so many families are in a position of not being able to get into a day care, so for a day care to potentially shut or change management is a really big issue."
Maria Meek, who has two children — one still attends the centre — said the council's decision hit her "like a ton of bricks".
She was concerned the move would jeopardise the centre's quality of care and affect current staff and management.
"We just hope that this decision gets reconsidered by council and also by the Bulldogs because we really love our centre and we don't want anything to change," Ms Meek said.
"We love the staff and love the management, and we know our kids are in the best place."
A spokesperson for the Western Bulldogs Football Club said the request for new lease terms would provide certainty and flexibility regarding the continuation of childcare services at the centre.
"The proposed terms would enable a longer tenure for a childcare provider, regardless of its 'for-profit' status," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the club was not proposing any disruptions to the service and instead seeking a reduction in fees to support affordability for current and future families, while increasing service hours.
"It should be noted that a removal of the not-for-profit clause from the headlease between club and council does not preclude the club from continuing to utilise a not-for-profit childcare provider at the site, but provides great flexibility," they said.
In a letter to parents and guardians, ECMS stated that it had submitted a tender to the Western Bulldogs to continue to operate the service.
It noted that the Western Bulldogs had advised ECMS that the tender for the service remained in a competitive state.
Member for Footscray Katie Hall said she had been contacted by multiple constituents and supports the parents in their advocacy. She plans to pass on her concerns to the council.
"I think people are rightly concerned that council assets are potentially being put into private hands and that might change the cost," Ms Hall said.
"I am concerned about a lack of places locally … it's a great not-for-profit centre and I'm strongly supportive of not-for-profit early childhood education in the local area."
For Ms Montalti, the main priority is keeping her son at a centre that has quickly become a second home.
Maribyrnong City Council has been contacted for comment.
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