THE Shire of Collie has pushed for the Department of Local Government and Communities (DLGC) to continue their current lease on the Collie Early Education Centre.
A report, shown to the council at the meeting of Tuesday, August 2, informed of the DLGC’s plan to secede the lease and building ownership of the Collie Early Education Centre.
The DLGC’s property ownership and management of the facility is set to cease on June 30, 2018.
The motion advised that the Shire of Collie oppose the DLGC’s plan to cancel the lease to Collie Early Education inc.
It requested that the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) oppose the action on the grounds of cost shifting by the state.
Shire of Collie president Wayne Sanford said the council would strive to keep the childcare centre in operation.
“This is an important service to the town, we are a Supertown, taking State Government services away from Collie doesn’t sit well with the council or the community,” he said.
“It’s something that we will work through, we’ll need to talk to the minister and through the department and get some clarity on what exactly is going to happen.”
The motion also advised to approach the local member to create an opposing policy leading up to the 2017 State Election.
Member for Collie-Preston Mick Murray MLA said he was disappointed the State Government would shift the costs to local councils.
“It’s a ridiculous situation where government funding has been put in but now the they are expecting the Shire to fit the bill,” he said.
“It again is privatisation by stealth, they are outsourcing making the community pay when it certainly wasn’t the intentions of the budget of the Collie Shire Council.”
A DLGC spokesperson said the DLGC intended to work with the Shire of Collie throughout the transition.
“There are 1,137 child care providers in Western Australia, of these, only 33 centres operate from State Government managed properties,” they said.
“It is not appropriate for the department, as the child care regulator, to also own or lease property in which child care services are offered.
“In each case, the department is working with each affected child care centre and local stakeholders to identify the preferred options going forward.”
