Community-driven childcare service in Augusta ‘disappointed’ at Shire of Augusta-Margaret River

The Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council has shocked the Augusta community by failing to support a push for a community childcare service led by a group of local mothers.

On August 24, councillors did not support an alternative motion proposed by deputy shire president Julia Meldrum to invest $600,000 to redevelop parts of Augusta’s rundown recreation centre and instead voted to scrounge up interest in more family daycare services in the seaside hamlet.

Despite more than two years of agitation from the Augusta Community Childcare Centre group, the Shire would offer $50,000 to subsidise family daycare despite an alleged lack of available services in Augusta.

In January, the council rejected an agreed plan to upgrade the Augusta Recreation Centre as a base for the not-for-profit service because tenders came in above the $850,000 in allocated funds.

The childcare group also previously rejected an offer of a Department of Communities house on Hillview Street, saying it was in a bad position and inadequate to host the growing number of Augusta families crying out for childcare.

Group spokeswoman Jasmine Meagher previously said employment and the future growth of Augusta were under threat because of the shortage.

A detailed shire report outlined steps taken to investigate options since the previous council decisions, offering detailed demand analysis across different childcare models.

“Commercial childcare service providers consulted by the shire have indicated that demand is not sufficient for them to confidently invest in providing childcare services in the Augusta district at this time,” the report said.

“Officers also met with the South West Development Commission, Regional Development Australia South West and local politicians during the process.”

The Augusta group’s success in running vacation childcare programs ultimately went against them in the report, which found since their program was successful, no further support for this approach was needed and children attending were 20 or fewer.

Those numbers weren’t considered enough to justify extensive funding — and in a slap to Augusta residents already fuming at perceived Margaret River-centric funding — an incoming major childcare centre in Margaret River was identified as a possible service supplier.

Ms Meagher told the Times her team was disappointed with the outcome.

Family daycare, if it eventuated, would help just five children, while her group had 45 children registered and 65 for after-hours and vacation care.