Childcare back on Nambucca council agenda

Childcare was at the top of the agenda at this week’s Nambucca Valley Council meeting.

Councillors resolved to allocate $100,000 for a childcare reserve and to contribute $80,000 towards the expansion of Macksville Preschool.

After Cr Jane MacSmith’s previous childcare motions were deferred then narrowly defeated, Cr Susan Jenvey brought a similar motion to the May meeting.

Cr Jenvey moved to form an interagency working group with government agencies and childcare providers facilitated by Regional Development Australia (RDA).

While councillors agreed that the childcare issue urgently needed to be addressed and that the council has a critical role to play, there was robust debate about the best approach to take.

Cr MacSmith, who was thanked for her substantial work and advocacy on the issue, presented data from her recent survey of 24 local families.

Her research showed that although the last census showed there are 400 children under two in the LGA, there were currently just eight spaces available in centre-based care for that age group across the Nambucca Valley.

Nineteen families reported that their income had been affected, totalling a combined opportunity loss of just under $1.2 million annually, and an average of $63k per family.

Cr MacSmith recommended adding an amendment for “an independent needs analysis and long-term childcare strategy for the Nambucca Valley”, however Cr Jenvey and Cr McWilliam disagreed, preferring an approach that drew on the local knowledge of industry insiders.

Members of the community made their voices heard at the public forum.

Macksville parent David Evans gave an emotional presentation about the critical importance of childcare. He emphasised that the development of 700 new homes at Valla Urban Growth Area (VUGA) would drastically increase demand and needed to be considered in council’s future planning.

Dianne Wall, CEO of RDA, also spoke at the forum, highlighting that the organisation’s preliminary survey data showed the childcare crisis was worsening across the LGA with significant health and economic impacts.

She also noted the challenges that local businesses faced when trying to hire employees who could access adequate childcare.

Local Government NSW recommended that councils step in to ensure access where private providers could not viably operate, emphasising that 50 per cent of councils operated childcare services.

“The answer is clear – shift investment into not-for-profits, including council-run services, to lift safety and quality,” said Mayor Byrne, President of Local Government NSW.

Research by Social Ventures Australia (SVA) ranked Nambucca Heads at second in NSW for “need for an integrated early childhood hub”. SVA’s rationale is that Nambucca Heads is a place where significant disadvantage intersects with low access to Early Childhood Education and Care.

SVA notes that integrated Early Childhood Hubs “provide access to integrated, high-quality early learning services, developmental checks and child health services, family and parenting supports, allied health and other early intervention supports, as well as providing a space where children and families can come together to build social networks”.

Speaking on behalf of the new grassroots organisation Nambucca Working Families (NWF), Holly Quin told News Of The Area that while the group was pleased to see the council taking the crisis seriously, much more was required.

“We’re really pleased the council supported the Macksville preschool expansion. Unfortunately, it doesn’t scratch the surface of the crisis we’re seeing in Nambucca Heads and at the northern end of the shire.”

Ms Quin also noted the council’s plan for massive residential growth at VUGA, and said that she hoped the roundtable would come to the same conclusion as NWF.

“The scale of this issue demands bold action – which is why we’re calling for a new early childhood hub on a completely new site,” Ms Quin said.

By Lani GREENHALGH