At its meeting last night (Tuesday 8 September), Golden Plains Shire Council resolved to lease part of the Bannockburn Family Services Centre, 2a Pope St, Bannockburn to Kardinia Childcare Inc.
Council noted that in granting the lease to the tenant, Council will cease operating the Bannockburn Children’s Service Long Day Care from 24 December 2020 and the service will be transitioned to Kardinia Childcare Inc. for operation beginning the week of 4 January 2021.
Council will continue to operate its sessional kindergarten service at the Bannockburn Family Services Centre, as well as its locations in Meredith, Teesdale, Rokewood and Inverleigh. Council’s Family and Child Services including its Maternal and Child Health service will also continue to operate from Bannockburn Family Services Centre.
Council has communicated with staff and families of the Bannockburn Children’s Service through the review and lease process, and Council and Kardinia are committed to working collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition for children and their families at the Bannockburn centre. Council’s Expression of Interest included a preference for any tenant to employ the existing staff to provide continuity of service and Kardinia have expressed a desire to accommodate this where appropriate and possible.
The Bannockburn Family Services Centre Lease Process
Following a significant review of the Bannockburn Children’s Service long day care in 2019, Council undertook an Expression of Interest for the lease of part of the Bannockburn Family Service Centre, 2a Pope Street, Bannockburn for the purpose of providing long day care services in January 2020. A preferred operator, Kardinia Childcare Inc., was endorsed by Council at its April 2020 meeting and proceeded to negotiate a proposed lease.
At its July 2020 meeting, Council resolved to commence the statutory procedures under section 190 of the Local Government Act 1989 to invite public submissions on its intention to grant a lease to Kardinia Childcare Inc. for part of the Bannockburn Family Services Centre, 2a Pope St, Bannockburn.
The lease proposal is on the following terms and conditions:
- Commencement of operations: To be agreed between the parties
- Rent Year 1: $184,400 per annum plus GST
- Rental increase: 4% every year from second anniversary of commencement date
- Term: 5 years with a further 5 year option.
The proposal includes that the Tenant would commence operating from the centre in January 2021.
Submissions were invited by email, mail and through Council’s website from 29 July to 26 August 2020. No submissions were received on the Bannockburn Family Services Centre Long Day Care Lease Proposal.
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said Council’s decision is the culmination of a long journey to determine the future of long day care at the Bannockburn Children’s Service.
“Golden Plains Shire Council commenced the operation of the Bannockburn Children’s Service long day care, from the Bannockburn Family Service Centre in 2014, at a time when there were no other long day child care options for families in the Shire and Council established the service to meet a need that supported workforce participation. Since that time, two other private child care providers have entered the Bannockburn child care market, resulting in more choices for families.
“Council is pleased to welcome Kardinia Childcare to Golden Plains Shire. Kardinia is a well-regarded, experienced early childhood education and care provider, with services in Geelong, Warrnambool and Ballarat, and its long day care services have achieved ‘exceeding quality’ in accordance with the National Quality Framework.
“The lease will provide a return on Council’s past investment in delivering of the service and contribute to the ongoing cost of the operations of the Bannockburn Family Service Centre, a purpose-built early years facility. Kardinia’s long day care service will operate alongside Council’s Maternal and Child Health and Kindergarten services and our partners in the provision of allied health services, offering a suite of complementary services to families and their children.
“On behalf of Council, I’d like to thank and recognise the staff of Bannockburn Children’s Service, who every day provide top quality care and education to children and families of Golden Plains Shire. Your passion and commitment is evident and your continued support and engagement throughout this review process is greatly appreciated.”