Image of parent’s rally in March 2022 to protest planned childcare centre sale in Port Phillip (Source: Herald Sun) 

Following a community backlash earlier this year, Councillors decide against selling three childcare centres subject to Victorian Government financial support. Mayor Marcus Pearl announced on 18 August 2022, ‘Our Council last night decided against selling three community-run early years education and care centres, subject to finalisation of funding arrangements’.

The announcement follows community consultation about the future of these centres - at 17 Eildon Road, St Kilda, 39 The Avenue, Balaclava, and 46 Tennyson Street Elwood. Council will seek to rebuild or renovate these centres if Vic Gov funding is received.

Whilst discussions for funding support with the Victorian and Australian Governments are ongoing the Port Phillip Mayor has released this update for transparency. Mayor Pearl said ‘We can report there have been productive conversations with the Victorian Department of Education and Training about long-term early childhood infrastructure needs across our city, including at those three centres. Discussions with the Department about potential co-funding arrangements under the Building Blocks Partnership program are progressing well’.

Previously Council had decided to sell the three centres after the Victorian Government advised Port Phillip that it was not eligible for state funding because of certain eligibility hurdles. After the issued blew up the state government has corrected their earlier advice and will accept an application for funding. 

There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the Council’s commitment to continue supporting community run childcare across Port Phillip which is conditional on assistance from the Victorian and Australian Governments who are responsible for funding early learning. The City of Port Phillip own 17 facilities which provide over a third of our city’s licenced childcare places. 

The Council has committed to update the community on this important issue as soon as they can but cannot provide further details due to the confidentiality of the continuing discussions.