Mums devastated as Aquanation Ringwood axes childcare from June 30

A Ringwood pool marred by closures due to several toileting “accidents” this month has dealt users another blow, as it prepares to axe its childcare service.

Ringwood’s Aquanation is axing its childcare service from June 30 due to dwindling numbers. Picture: Kiel Egging.

A Melbourne pool impacted by toileting incidents this is axing its childcare service due to low numbers, devastating local mums.

Maroondah Council, operators of Ringwood’s Aquanation, will cut the service on June 30, claiming patronage had continued to decline despite a dedicated effort to boost numbers over the past 18 months.

The decision comes despite regular users telling Leader the service is occasionally booked out with up to 25 children per session.

An email from Leisure and Aquatics Facilities Manager Tara Choudari on March 15, obtained by Leader, said the decision to axe childcare at Aquanation was “incredibly difficult” to make.

“Despite our best efforts to grow the program, unfortunately attendance has continually declined in recent years,” Ms Choudari wrote.

“We have explored various options to try and keep the program operational and none have been successful in increasing the number of families using the service.”

Heathmont mum Jessica Rodginson said she was devastated the service was being axed, which she used up to three times a week for her daughter.

“As my daughter is too young for kindergarten and childcare is financially not an option, this is the only service I have access to,” Ms Rodginson said.

“Families have been told the creche is closing because they cannot get enough numbers and numbers have not improved since Covid, however, there are times where sessions are booked out, so I can’t understand this.”

Another mother, Rachel Crocker, said she was considering contacting local MPs and had “spoken to many families” about a petition to reverse the decision.

“I know for us and many families it (the childcare closure) will mean they will no longer be able to use the gym for exercise or occasional care for errands or respite,” she said.

“This will then impact on parents’ health, fitness and mental health.”

Acting Mayor Tasa Damante said the council had promoted the service with letter box drops, social media campaigns and targeted phone calls to former users, but sessions were “operating well below capacity resulting in the service no longer being viable”.

The council did not say how many staff could lose their jobs over the decision and if they would be offered alternative employment.

Aquanation notified users of the childcare decision on the same day it shut its leisure pool for the fourth time this month due to a toileting incident.

Cr Damante confirmed a “high number of liquid faecal incidents” had led to the closures, after a warning was posted on Aquanation’s Facebook page with a graphic and the caption “Don’t let a little poo shut down the pool”.

She said the council was also wary of a gastro outbreak circulating in the community and it would “continue to educate patrons about healthy swimming etiquette to prevent further incidents”.