Just two months after negative feedback forced a backflip on its previous plans, Maribyrnong council is again conducting community consultation on the lease arrangements for the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre in Footscray.
After the previous lease on the centre held by the Western Bulldogs expired, council passed a motion in June that removed a clause stipulating that the Bulldogs Childcare Centre could only be operated by a not-for-profit.
The move angered local parents who were concerned at the prospect of the centre being run by a for-profit operator.
During the public consultation process that followed, more than 400 formal submissions opposing the removal of the not-for-profit clause were received, while a petition calling for its reinstatement attracted more than 2570 signatures.
“We heard community feedback loud and clear during that period, and saw how important the centre is to its community,” said deputy mayor Bernadette Thomas of the backlash which forced council to reinstate the not-for-profit clause at its meeting on July 22.
Based on the feedback, council also removed the first right of refusal clause from the new lease, which would have given the Bulldogs automatic priority.
Now council wants more community feedback on whether the lease should be for five or 10 years and what matters most about the childcare centre.
“Before council is presented with an updated lease, we want to hear from our community to ensure the lease reflects the needs and expectations of the community,” said Cr Thomas of why more community feedback was being sought.
Feedback: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/bulldogslease
