State Government offers $1.5 million to relocate City Hall child care centre

The Queensland Government has offered $1.5 million to the Brisbane City Council to allow the popular child care centre in City Hall to be relocated.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt said the one-off funding would allow a child care centre to be included in the plans for the Green Square office building, to be built on vacant Brisbane City Council land in St Paul’s Terrace St, Fortitude Valley, by June next year.

He said the funding injection would mean peace of mind and security for parents of children currently using the City Hall facilities.

“Department of Communities staff have been working closely with council officers to determine a suitable new site for the existing child care centre, which needs to shift because it does not meet fire safety regulations,” Mr Pitt said.

“Consultation with parents, staff and the Creche and Kindergarten Association which operates the centre, identified the Green Square option as the preferred relocation site.

“The site is located next to the Fortitude Valley State School, which also meets the Queensland Government’s preference for locating child care services near schools.”

Premier, and Member for Brisbane Central, Peter Beattie, welcomed the funding announcement and said he looked forward to the new centre commencing operations.

“This is good news for parents and families – the ones who are using the existing centre and who will make use of the new centre, and also the many parents and families in the years to come for whom this child care centre will make all the difference.”

Mr Pitt said that as part of the funding deal, the council would have to agree to maintain the centre’s rent at current rates and restrict rises to the Consumer Price Index only.

“The council will also have to guarantee that the centre be used for community-based child care for 20 years, even if the current lessee Kindercraft no longer provides the service.

“The Department of Communities will now work in earnest with the council, Kindercraft and the Creche and Kindergarten Association to ensure the new centre is built before Kindercraft’s current lease at City Hall expires in June next year.”