Parents launching a last-ditch bid to stave off the closure of a Footscray childcare service have had their hopes dashed.
Star Weekly reported in July that Empire Street Early Learning Centre would shut on December 16 following a closed-door decision by Maribyrnong council based on a 2014 review.
More than 30 families have since been offered places at other centres, the majority being asked to relocate to Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre.
Mother Adrienne Ward asked last week’s council meeting for an immediate review of the decision by the newly elected council ahead of the December closure.
“It is imperative that the community has a chance to access the soundness of this decision, particularly in the context of high population growth in the area and the rise in demand for childcare places.”
Ms Ward also asked for the centre to be kept open until another local centre opened in its place.
But Maribyrnong chief executive Stephen Wall said all councillors were familiar with the decision to close the centre and had been advised that the move had been lawfully made and enacted.
“The closure is imminent, the current contractor has sought to end their contract with council so the decision certainly is well and truly been enacted so there is no possibility of a rescission motion for the new council.”
A request from councillor Sarah Carter to release the confidential report won’t be addressed until December 13, just three days before the centre closes.
Council’s director of community services, Clem Gillings, said the council is engaged with the state government on working towards a fully integrated early learning centre next to Footscray City Primary School.
“I think that the community can rest assured we would be very likely to give that development a very high profile, but we would not end up having doors open for at best two and a half to three years if not a little bit more.”
