‘Uproar’: backlash grows over plans to turn north shore kinder into a men’s shed

A council plan to evict a non-profit kindergarten and repurpose the site into a men’s shed has sparked concerns over job losses and backlash among parents on Sydney’s north shore.

The kindergarten caters for children aged up to five.

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Concerns are growing over the pending closure of a popular kindergarten on Sydney’s north shore under a council plan to repurpose the site into a men’s shed.

Parents have launched a petition opposing a move by Lane Cove Council to evict the Meeting House Kindergarten from its 18-space childcare facility at 47 Burns Bay Rd.

The kinder provides programs ranging from play-based learning activities to school readiness initiatives for children aged between three and five and has leased the site from the council since 2012.

The centre has leased the site since 2012.

But the doors are set to close at the end of this year after the centre’s application to extend its lease into 2021 was knocked back by council staff.

A centre committee spokeswoman said the decision had left long-time employees facing uncertain futures and caused “uproar” among parents.

“After we sent the application we got notified the council wouldn’t extend the lease and that the Lane Cove Men’s Shed would be moving in instead,” the spokeswoman said.

“Why they would have to put a men’s shed in a facility used by a community preschool – I can’t understand it – and we haven’t been given any explanation.

Lane Cove Men’s Shed members are due to relocate to the site from next year.

“The whole place is built around being a childcare centre – it has children’s toilets, play areas. It’s going to come at a large cost to the ratepayers to turn it into a workshop.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation and can’t afford to pay commercial rates – that’s how we’ve been able to offer community prices for our parents.

“Unless we’re able to move into another council facility we’ll have to close.”

The spokeswoman said concerns are also growing among six long-term staff members along with volunteers who assist running childcare programs.

“It’s not a good look for the council to be getting rid of staff who are all women in a climate where people are losing jobs left right and centre,” she said.

“There are livelihoods on the line.”

Budget documents show the council has allocated $300,000 in the coming financial year to refit the building for the men’s shed, covering costs including renovations and dust extraction.

A council spokeswoman said the decision to repurpose the site followed an assessment by staff that would “ensure (the council) maximises the best use of its limited resources”.

“Council requires the building to rehouse the Men’s Shed to ensure that the shed can continue to grow” she said.

“We have not been asked to provide any support (for the kinder to relocate to another site) but would consider any request.”

The building was previously Lane Cove Police Station until it was refitted as a childcare centre.

The move comes after the Lane Cove Men’s Shed last year launched a campaign to find an expanded facility for its members due to size constraints at its current home, located in the basement of an aged care home on Fig St.

Member David Lewinsohn said the existing facility was only equipped to cater for eight members at a time and a larger building would meet demand for the north shore’s ageing population.

“We were the first men’s shed established in Australia but because of our circumstances we’re in a situation where we’re unable to grow,” he said.

“I live in a unit and the entire shed is about the size of two of my lounge rooms put together.

“The larger site would enable us to welcome new members but also work on more ambitious projects.”

More than 100 people have signed a petition opposing the council’s decision as of Monday with supporters arguing the closure “would break up a wonderful community.”

“The Meeting House is a community preschool that has been serving our community and teaching our children for over 30 years. To shut it down in this way is a real loss for our community,” Para Dayman said.

The Meeting House moved into the site after its previous home at 23a Stokes St was redeveloped by the council into a long-term day centre and apartment block.

The council spokeswoman said the Meeting House “decided not to return to that site” and that “it was never intended that the preschool would be permanently” based at Burns Bay Rd.

The kindergarten committee spokeswoman said it was “unlikely” the facility could return to Stokes St due to the “substantial costs” involved in establishing a new centre in line with childcare standards.