Hobsons Bay Kindergarten's Leone Hede (centre) and kids (from left) Laukynn , Stella , Ava , Maddie and Isla, all aged four.
PARENTS have called for an upgrade or relocation of a Newport kindergarten to allow room for increasing enrolments.
A petition with 69 signatories was given to Hobsons Bay Council last week, asking the council to step up planning and allocate funds for an expanded modern centre.
The Hobsons Bay Kindergarten parents want the kindergarten either upgraded on its current site or moved to vacant land on the nearby Newport Gardens Primary School.
They have told how the existing kindergarten, on the corner of Woods and Laurie streets, is becoming cramped and in need of the repairs.
But the council is understood to be reluctant to fund major upgrades until the future site has been decided.
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Kindergarten committee vice-president Dianne Howell said there had been talk of relocation for over two years, but discussions stopped at the end of 2009.
“We thought now we really need a new kinder,” Ms Howell said.
“The building is 56 years old. It’s a growing community and there are three year olds that missed out on kinder (this year) because there is no room.
“It’s an old building and one unit, so we can’t fit any more groups in there.”
Kinder director Leonie Hede said new parents were affected.
“The area for parents to access (for socialising) is extremely limited,” she said. “It’s not conducive to allowing community development, as if there was a meeting room or nice foyer.”
Ms Hede said the kinder offered about 50 places for four year olds and 20 for three year olds, with limited vacancies.
A new centre would potentially double enrolment numbers.
Williamstown North Ward’s Cr Peter Hemphill said the council was still exploring a number of alternatives for the kinder. A site planning report, which will include options on the school site, will be brought to a future council meeting after talks with the kinder committee, Cr Hemphill said.
Source: whereilive
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