UPDATE: Hay Shire Council is urgently negotiating with Homes NSW and NSW Police to tackle a critical childcare shortage in the community. The council’s efforts come as the sole early childcare provider, Hay Children’s Services (HCS), faces overwhelming demand with a waitlist of over 90 spaces and a capacity limit of just 24 children per day.
This shortage is severely impacting the local workforce, according to Council’s General Manager, David Webb. “This is having a significant impact on the town’s workforce availability,” Webb stated, emphasizing the dire need for more childcare options. The recently released RDA ‘Childcare in the Riverina Preliminary Report’ highlights that Hay has one of the lowest ratios of childcare places to children in the region.
Efforts to relocate childcare services to the NPWS building have stalled, with National Parks prioritizing the building for its own use. To address the immediate needs, Council staff have proposed repurposing two properties: a Council-owned house at 342 Church Street and a NSW Police-owned house at 236 Coke Street. The latter is adjacent to HCS, making it a prime candidate for expanding childcare resources.
The Council-owned property at 342 Church Street is expected to be ready for HCS by the end of the year, once the current tenant vacates. However, Webb warns that even with this addition, more space will be essential to meet current demand. “Additional space will be required to meet even the current childcare demand,” he confirmed.
Homes NSW, which manages the NSW Police housing portfolio in Hay, is involved in discussions to facilitate this expansion. Currently, there are six NSW Police houses in Hay, with five occupied. A new dual occupancy development on Meakes Street has been approved, potentially increasing the stock to eight homes.
Discussions have been initiated with Homes NSW to explore swapping 236 Coke Street for another suitable dwelling, either from the Bishop’s Lodge development or an existing Council-owned property. While strict housing requirements hinder options, Homes NSW has expressed in-principle support for the plan, provided the swap can be executed.
The proposed scenario suggests transferring 236 Coke Street for one of two Council-owned residences in Murray Street, allowing for a seamless transition for current tenants. This strategy aims to minimize disruption and maintain stability for families involved.
In addition, the police tenant at 236 Coke Street could temporarily move into a vacant teacher’s house until the Meakes Street development is complete. The timing and specifics of this arrangement are still pending confirmation from Homes NSW.
In a positive development, Hay is among the regions set to receive $4.39 million in funding dedicated to improving childcare infrastructure, workforce, and services. This funding is strictly for enhancing existing childcare services. HCS is currently preparing an application to repurpose the 342 Church Street property and implement other service enhancements.
As these negotiations and plans progress, the urgency for expanding childcare in Hay remains high. Families, workers, and local officials are closely watching for updates on this critical issue that affects the community’s future.
