Bambinos Kindergarten Fairwater in Harrington Park fails health standards

A childcare centre catering for up to 163 children has been slapped with a fine after breaching health standards with repeated pest outbreaks in southwest Sydney.

A childcare centre in Harrington Park has copped a hefty fine and landed themselves on the NSW Food Authority's name and shame list for its repeated pest issues.

A childcare centre catering for up to 163 children has been slapped with a fine after failing to meet health standards from repeated pest outbreaks in southwest Sydney.

Bambinos Kindergarten Fairwater in Harrington Park received an $880 penalty from Camden Council after failing to eradicate and prevent pest infestations, despite previous warnings from authorities.

Camden Council health inspectors discovered the breach – which had the potential to lead to a “harbourage of pests” – in late July before fining the childcare centre, which caters for children aged between six weeks and six years old, in August.

Bambinos Kindergarten Fairwater in Harrington Park was fined $880 after failing to meet health standards in July 2024. Picture: Google

A Camden Council spokesman said the NSW Food Authority published lists of businesses, also known as the ‘name and shame list’, that have breached or are alleged to have breached food safety laws to help consumers make informed decisions.

“Council works with business operators to ensure they comply with the relevant health standards,” the Camden Council spokesman said.

The 163-place childcare centre caters for children aged between six weeks and six years old, and had received previous warnings about the pest problem. Picture: Supplied

However, the spokesman was unable to provide specifics of the types of pests and the extent of infiltration discovered in the council’s environmental health investigation, citing confidentiality reasons.

In response to the penalty notice, a spokeswoman from G8 Education Ltd, which operates Bambinos Kindergarten, claimed that the issue identified by council had been “rectified” and the matter “closed.”

Bambinos Kindergarten Fairwater in Harrington Park was fined $880 after failing to meet health standards in July 2024. Picture: Google

She also emphasised that at “no stage was the health or safety of the children at the centre compromised”.

G8 Education did not respond to this publication’s questions regarding whether the families of children attending the centre were informed about the pest issue.