TOUGH new accreditation rules to bring childcare centres across the nation up to scratch are set to slug ratepayers $20,000.
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They could also result in Bathurst Regional Council giving its annual community survey a miss to make the savings to pay for the backyard makeover which is urgently needed at the Little Scallywags it operates in Havannah Street.
An assessment of the facilities at Little Scallywags has found that its backyard does not meet current requirements for safe child’s play.
With accreditation under the new National Quality Framework (NQF) due to start at the end of the year, the pressure is on for the childcare centre to make the grade.
A report to council’s ordinary monthly meeting tonight by general manager David Sherley outlines how the funds can be found.
“Our self assessment of the facility found it needed about $20,000 of improvements to the backyard to meet the new standards,” he said.
“This money could be found by taking the funds in the 2010/11 Management Plan for community surveys and using them to complete the necessary work at Little Scallywags [pictured below].”
Mr Sherley said council has been carrying out the community surveys on an annual basis since the amalgamation of Bathurst and Evans Shire in 2004.
He notes the survey is considered unnecessary at this point in time as council already has in place plans for local urban and rural roads, footpaths and cycleways, bridges and major culverts, water, sewer buildings, drainage, parks and gardens and the aerodrome.
As well, council is also currently involved in community consultation with the villages as part of its rural villages review, while urban planning and draft rural strategies have already been developed.
Mr Sherley said there is funding for the community survey to be resumed in the 2011/12 Management Plan, with $20,640 set aside in that budget.
Deputy mayor Ian North said yesterday the decision is all about council getting its priorities right.
“Most of the decisions relating to the type of information we get from our community surveys have already been made for the coming financial year,” he said.
“While it won’t hurt to put the survey on hold for a year, the work at Little Scallywags can’t wait because we can’t risk losing the necessary accreditation there.
“It’s a community service that people depend on and we have to ensure we meet the right standards. We don’t ever want to be in the position of jeopardising that service.”