UPDATE: Hay Shire Council is urgently negotiating with Homes NSW and NSW Police to expand childcare availability as the community grapples with a staggering waitlist of over 90 children. Currently, Hay Children’s Services (HCS) can only accommodate 24 children per day, leaving many families without critical care options.
The situation is dire, as Council General Manager David Webb stated, “This is having a significant impact on the town’s workforce availability.” Recent data from the RDA’s ‘Childcare in the Riverina Preliminary Report’ reveals that Hay has one of the lowest ratios of childcare spaces to children in the region, intensifying the need for immediate action.
Negotiations are ongoing regarding the potential relocation of childcare services to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) building, but plans have stalled due to NPWS’s intention to retain the property for its own needs. To address the pressing demand, Council staff have proposed repurposing two vacant properties: the Council-owned house at 342 Church Street and the NSW Police-owned house at 236 Coke Street.
The property at 342 Church Street is expected to be available for HCS by the end of the year, but Webb emphasized that even more space is necessary to meet current demands. “Additional space will be required to meet even the current childcare demand,” he noted.
Homes NSW manages the NSW Police housing portfolio in Hay, which includes six occupied houses and a planned dual occupancy development on Meakes Street. Webb mentioned that a swap of 236 Coke Street for a suitable dwelling within the Council’s holdings is under consideration. Homes NSW has signaled support for the Council’s childcare expansion plan, provided a like-for-like property exchange can be arranged.
The proposed scenario involves transferring 236 Coke Street to the Council in exchange for one of two residences in Murray Street. This arrangement would minimize disruption for current tenants, while the police tenant at Coke Street could be temporarily housed in an available teacher’s residence until the Meakes Street development is completed.
Webb confirmed that “this detail is yet to be confirmed by Homes NSW along with the timing of any transfer of properties.” The success of this plan is critical, as it would allow integration of 236 Coke Street into the expanded childcare footprint.
In a promising development, Hay has been allocated $4.39 million for childcare infrastructure, workforce, and service improvements, specifically benefiting Hay, Carrathool, and Warrumbungle. HCS is actively preparing applications to repurpose 342 Church Street and implement various service enhancement initiatives.
As these negotiations unfold, the clock is ticking for families in Hay. With a growing waitlist and limited childcare options, the urgency for solutions has never been greater. Stakeholders are closely watching as the community hopes for swift resolutions to alleviate the childcare crisis.
Stay tuned for updates as these negotiations progress and the Council seeks to address the pressing needs of the Hay community.
