Maribyrnong council votes in favour of terminating consultation on Western Bulldogs childcare changes after oppositions from community

A Melbourne council has scrapped a contentious childcare consultation process prompting wild cheers from locals during an emotional meeting on Tuesday night

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A Melbourne council has scrapped a contentious childcare consultation process prompting wild cheers from locals during an emotional meeting on Tuesday night

At Maribyrnong council meeting, a notice of motion from councillor Cuc Lam was passed to “alleviate further community concerns and distress occurring within the community unnecessarily”.

In her motion, Ms Lam said the council had initially entered the process to explore options that “maximise community benefit” but said it was time to “show initiative and leadership” in response to the volume of public opposition.

“I consider that council should also request a further report from the chief executive

officer addressing Council’s options for this lease that include the retention of the not for-profit clause within the lease,” she stated.

Dozens of angry residents packed the council chambers with overflow seating arranged to accommodate the crowd.

Crowds erupted in cheers and applause after the councillors voted in favour.

A petition with 2573 signatures was also handed to council, demanding it keep the not-for-profit requirement in place for the childcare lease at 19 Hocking St, Footscray.

Following the vote, the chief executive will present a further report for council’s options for the proposed lease, inclusive of the retention of the not-for-profit condition on subleasing and the removal of the first right of refusal in the new lease.

Western Bulldogs will also be notified of council resolution and the community that “the proposed lease will not proceed in its current form”.

It comes after a council decision to let the Bulldogs vary the terms of the lease for a childcare centre within the Whitten Oval precinct.

Previous requirements meant the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre had to house a not-for-profit childcare provider, but with the new proposed terms, they would have been able to source a for-profit partner.

At the time, the council said the decision was made in the best interest of the community.