Eltham Preschool facing uncertain future as Nillumbik Council looks to develop land
Parents and neighbours connected to a popular preschool in Melbourne’s northeast face a nervous wait as the local council decides what to do with the precious land the kinder occupies.
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Parents and neighbours connected to a much-loved preschool in Eltham face a nervous wait as Nillumbik Council decides what to do with the precious land the kinder occupies.
The town’s prized World War II memorial building complex could be in the way of a new development as the council seeks to develop the land at 895 and 903-907 Main Rd.
Parents connected to Eltham Preschool, which has occupied the site at 903 Main Rd for 62 years, claim the council is not giving them any answers about the preschool’s future.
Parent Advisory Group chair Sarah Mackintosh said they did not know any more than the public.
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“All we know is we love the preschool and for decades people have loved this preschool — its got a really strong community feel about it,” she said.
“We’re really local to everything, so the kids can do walking tours, and no one has the grounds we have — it will be very difficult to replicate these sorts of grounds anywhere else.”
Ms Mackintosh, who has two children at the preschool, said she did not believe the centre would close.
“The issue is we may possibly need to move, but this is a space we love,” she said.
Eltham’s Lisa McCann said the preschool played a crucial role in the Eltham community.
“There are people in the community whose parents helped establish this centre and who obviously don’t want to see it go,” she said.
“Their parents would walk miles when there were dirt tracks to have meetings about how best to establish Eltham Preschool.
“And the fact that this site is actually a World War II memorial for Eltham — how can you say, yes we’ll redevelop it.”
The council started asking for expressions of interest from potential parties interested in developing 895 and 903-907 Main Rd, Eltham last year.
The outcome was referred to the confidential section at a council meeting last month.
Nillumbik Council spokesman Mitch Grayson said the council was yet to make a decision about the future use of the land or relocation of existing users and services.
“Council remains committed to ensuring there is proper community engagement throughout this decision making process,” he said.
“The community has provided extensive input into shaping the vision for the Eltham Major Activity Centre where the land is located.
“The community continues to advocate to council that greater community value be realised from the vacant land.
“Further community consultation is expected to take place later in 2019 after the market testing process has been concluded.”
The council did not reveal how many submissions of interest from potential developers it was working through.
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