Sydney families will have access to much-needed early learning and care places in a purpose-built centre on the edge of harbourside parkland in Annandale.
The Crescent Early Learning Centre has been built by the City of Sydney and offers five playrooms and a large shaded outdoor play area with sandpits, vegetable patches and children’s bike tracks to accommodate up to 80 children.
Located next to Federal Park and near public transport, the centre is one of three new childcare centres built by the City that will open their doors in 2016, creating extra places to help meet the growing demand of Sydney families.
The surrounding area has also been landscaped, creating a new green space for the local community.
New centres at Huntley Street in Alexandria, offering 80 places, and Bourke Street in Darlinghurst, with 60 places, will open over the coming weeks. A fourth, at Green Square, is set to be completed in the first half of 2017 and will provide an additional 74 childcare places.
City CEO Monica Barone said with more families choosing to live in the inner city, the City was committed to supporting them by meeting current and future demand for child care.
“We are using every lever at our disposal to meet the demand for childcare in our city, from planning approvals through to our own construction budgets,” Ms Barone said.
“Since June 2013, there has been a net increase of 967 new operating places and more than 2,500 places in the development pipeline. Overall it’s an increase of more than 3,500 places, which means we are on track to meet the demand for new spaces – making the City of Sydney one of the few governments in Australia to prioritise and meet this important need.”
The City’s 2013 childcare needs study identified a shortfall of 3,100 places that was estimated to climb to a 3,400-place gap by 2016 if action was not taken.
In response, the City committed $56.1 million for the development of new centres, with excess funds set aside for future spaces.
The Crescent Early Learning Centre will be run by Goodstart Early Learning, Australia’s largest early learning providers and not-for-profit social enterprise, offering high quality early education and care for over 71,500 children across Australia.
Goodstart CEO, Julia Davison, said the Annandale centre will provide a nurturing learning environment for young children.“We are delighted to be partnering with the City to provide much-needed, affordable long day care and preschool programs,” Ms Davison said.
“It aligns with our commitment to ensuring children have access to high quality early learning, giving them the best possible start in life,” she said.
“Goodstart is committed to enhancing outcomes for children in vulnerable circumstances and will provide priority access to children with additional support needs, children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and children who speak a language at home other than English. We aim to create a centre that is a highly valued part of the inner west community.”
The City has a long-term commitment to child care, directly operating one long day care centre, one occasional care centre, two pre-schools and six out-of-school-hours care programs. The City also leases a further 17 centres to not-for-profit and commercial child care operators. By 2018, the City will own and either operate or lease 25 childcare facilities and seven out of school hours care facilities.
For enrolments enquiries: phone 1800 222 543
goodstart.org.au/centres/alexandria-huntley-st/overview
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Belinda Wallis on 0467 810 160 or email bwallis@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au