Parents at a Footscray childcare centre say claims of nearby drug dealing and inappropriate music fail to justify closing the centre’s doors.
Star Weekly last month reported Maribyrnong councillors had voted in a confidential meeting to close the Empire Early Learning Centre in December.
Parent Adrienne Ward, who has collected more than 320 signatures via an online petition calling for a halt to the closure, used last week’s council meeting to invite councillors to explain their decision.
Councillor Sarah Carter said the council was bound by confidentiality but she was happy to “front up” to a meeting with parents.
Councillor Catherine Cumming said her decision to support the closure followed the staged upgrade of other centres across Maribyrnong.
She said the decision was reinforced by a recent visit in which she was told by the Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) centre manager that children were exposed to “inappropriate music” from the flats, drug deals and people having domestic disputes.
“When these things occur, she picks up the children and brings them inside and they get to listen to The Wiggles.”
Ms Warde said there were still too many holes in the council’s explanation.
“We are concerned about some of the evidence they produced given it is based on a visit to the centre after they had made the decision,” she said.
Mother Jo Shepherd said she has one child at the centre and a second child she was hoping would begin next year.
She said the closure decision has been beset by a “lack of transparency”.
“It also means that even if we have a guaranteed place at another centre, that’s 30 local families who are missing out on those places.”
Father Darren Deroia said parents not wishing to relocate to the Maribyrnong Children’s Centre may be too late to gain a place at other centres in the area.
ECMS spokeswoman Kate Jeremiah said recent expansion works mean Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre (MRCC) will have 46 extra places available next year, with priority given to Empire Street families.
“All Empire St families who wish to enrol their child in early learning and care in 2017 will be offered a place at either MRCC or Bulldogs CCC,” she said.
“Empire Street families will be given priority of access before families currently on the waitlist for these centres.”
First round offers for 2017 will be made to Empire Street families by early September.
Ms Jeremiah said staff will be offered redeployment into suitable vacant roles across the ECMS network of centres.
Maribyrnong Council director of community services Clem Gillings said by the end of the year the council will have created 141 new long day care places and 252 kindergarten places since 2011.
“With the completed redevelopment of Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre, in addition to the redevelopment that is underway at the Church Street Children’s Centre, the affected families are well placed to be offered a child care placement in a state of the art centre where ample child care is available in 2017.”
Parents and Maribyrnong councillors will meet August 31 to discuss the closure.
