Pyrmont becomes new childcare battleground

A new front has opened up in the ongoing battle for more childcare in Inner Sydney.

Residents of Pyrmont say the childcare needs of the densely populated neighbourhood have long been ignored by the City of Sydney Council  and State Government authorities.

Community groups have convinced new Liberal Councillor Christine Forster to take up their plight, with Ms Forster to push for more childcare in Pyrmont at the next Council meeting on December 10.

Ms Forster will argue that Pyrmont must receive a significant share of the $55 million dollars recently fast-tracked by Council for childcare.

“I’ll be taking up the issue at the next Council meeting on behalf of local residents, who are quite rightly calling for Council to do something,” said Ms Forster.

“They’ve presented very sensible, measured arguments supporting their case. These are not hysterical people calling on Council to do something unreasonable – their requests are supported by facts.”

Elizabeth Elenius, convenor of the Pyrmont Action group, said those facts included Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

“The childcare needs of Pyrmont have been understood since the completion of the 2005 Childcare Needs Study. Since then, the number of children in the 0-2 age bracket in Pyrmont has increased by around 100 children per year, yet the number of full day care centres has remained at two, to serve a residential population of around 13,000,” said Ms Elenius.

“The 2011 Census revealed 538 children in the 0-4 age bracket and we are aware of numerous additions to that figure since last year.”

Ms Elenius said she believed Council had ignored childcare in Pyrmont “because there’s an outdated perception that people in high rise flats don’ have young families”. In addition to the resident population, thousands of workers added to the suburb’s childcare needs, she said.

Ms Elenius said several sites in Pyrmont could accommodate new childcare facilities, including the Council depot at the intersection of Fig and Wattle Streets.

“This is a huge site and childcare could be built there in tandem with new educational facilities for primary and secondary school students.”

However Jean Stuart, President of the Pyrmont Community Group, said Council had previously indicated to her that the site was contaminated.

“There’s a definite need for more childcare but tests need to be done on that site to confirm its safety,” she said.

The Pyrmont childcare calls come in the wake of recent controversy in Darlinghurst, where Council wants to hand over the historic Berwick Lane and John Birt Memorial Playground to KU Frances Newton Preschool as part of a major expansion to the facility.

Ms Forster raised the possibility that childcare was being prioritised in certain areas because of political considerations involving Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

“The Darlinghurst, Paddington, Surry Hills and Redfern areas are Clover’s heartland,” said Ms Forster. “Pyrmont isn’t so much part of her support base.”

Comment was being sought from Ms Moore at press time.