Liberal, Greens and Federal Labor have united to urge the Allan govt to save Windsor kindergarten

Windsor Community Children’s Centre is under eviction threat by Swinburne University, who wants to sell the land to developers.

The Allan government has been urged to step in and save a beloved community kindergarten from being evicted by one of the city’s major universities.

Swinburne University is moving to sell land it owns at Union St in Windsor, where the Windsor Community Children’s Centre cares for 54 local children – aged between six months and 4 years old – each day.

The University was gifted the land by the former Bailleau Liberal government in 2013. A year later, Swinburne closed its nearby Prahran campus but has allowed the centre to continue to operate.

Now, Swinburne University wants to sell the land to its developers to inject cash into its coffers, which has prompted a furious response from the local community who rely on the centre, which has been operating at the site since the 90s.

Windsor Community Children’s Centre director Sam Vale is fighting to save the facility which has been sent eviction orders by Swinburne University. Picture: Supplied

Swinburne University – which maintains it is required to divest the land because it doesn’t contribute to its delivery outcomes – informed the centre in early 2023 that it would need to vacate by the end of this year.

The David v Goliath battle has sparked a major community backlash and has prompted tri-political support on the eve of the Prahran by-election.

Federal Labor, the Liberals and Greens have all urged Swinburne to call off the sale. The state government has remained silent.

Windsor Community Children’s Centre director Sam Vale said the community was “fighting so hard” to save the much-loved facility.

“We’re at a point where we keep saying we really value children’s rights and we want the best for our children but the decisions that we make seem to contradict that,” she said.

Parent Romi Goldschlager said the centre was a “vital community resource”.

During a visit to the centre on Wednesday, local federal Labor MP Josh Burns said Swinburne University needed to backflip on the land sale.

“Swinburne were given the land by the state government. Swinburne are now looking for the most amount of money to get for land that frankly was given to them for free, off the taxpayers,” he said.

“It’s a really disappointing decision … This doesn’t have to happen.”

Swinburne University wants to sell the land to its developers to inject cash into its coffers. Picture: Supplied

But state Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the Allan government has a role to play and could override the University and call off the sale.

“Something like this must be protected,” he said.

“Whilst we’re going to hear from many people that Swinburne should stop the sale of this immediately, and we support this fact, the state government also have a responsibility and the Minister can, at the stroke of the pen, stop this going forward from today.”

Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt, who visited the centre on Wednesday, said local families relied on the service.

“Labor and Liberal talk a big game when it comes to childcare and early childhood education but this is where the rubber hits the road,” he said.

“If governments don’t act right now, this centre could be gone by the end of the year and that would be devastating.”

The issue is shaping up to be a key issue in the upcoming Prahran by-election, which is being contested by the Liberals and Greens. State Labor opted against running a candidate.

Stonnington Council deputy mayor Tom Humphries said the council couldn’t afford to buy the centre itself.

The issue is shaping up to be a key issue in the upcoming Prahran by-election. Picture: Supplied

Mr Humphries called on the state and federal governments to “come to the table” and save the “tremendous” asset.

A Swinburne spokesman said despite being informed in 2023 that the lease would expire, the centre has continued to enrol children.

“Swinburne is a tertiary education provider with no campus or core business activity in Prahran,” he said.

“The local, state and federal governments have talked a lot about finding a solution, but talking does not deliver outcomes. They have a collective responsibility in providing childcare and must move from talking to acting, and work together to find a solution for the community.”

A government spokesman said: “It will be inappropriate to comment while the Government is considering independent advice on the proposed planning scheme amendment.”

Originally published as Liberal, Greens and Federal Labor have united to urge the Allan govt to save Windsor kindergarten