Staff are “devastated” by Hobsons Bay council’s plan to close three kindergartens.
Employees at Altona Kindergarten in Blyth Street, Somers Parade Kindergarten and Altona West Kindergarten were told on Thursday the centres would be closed down over the next three years.
A source, who asked not to be named, said staff were told the kindergartens would be moved to a new hub being built at Altona P-9 College.
“Their reasoning is that it is apparently what the community wants and there is a demand for it,” the source said.
“I know for a fact that Somers Parade and Altona Kindergarten are in demand and always at full capacity and teachers in this area pour their absolute heart and soul into each of these kindergartens and they are absolutely devastated.”
Councillors are expected to vote on the move at their Tuesday night meeting.
Hobsons Bay’s community wellbeing director Peter Hunt said a report going before the council on Tuesday outlined how it could utilise $1.6 million state government funding to establish an integrated early years hub in the Altona precinct.
“One of the recommendations in the report is that a number of nearby existing kindergartens could transition in to a brand new $6.9 million early years hub building similar to the award winning integrated hub in Newport,” he said.
“There is also no proposed loss of jobs or reduction in kindergarten places.
“In fact, there is a possible future need to increase the number of jobs in line with a predicted increase in future demand.”
