Early Years Infrastructure Plan 2021-2041 by Maribyrnong City Council

Early Years

Infrastructure

Plan 2020-2041

Maribyrnong City Council Corner Hyde and Napier Streets Footscray Mail address PO Box 58, Footscray VIC 3011 Phone: 9688 0200 After hours/emergency: 9688 0200 Fax: 9687 7793 Email: email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

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Contents Introduction

Purpose

Scope

Integrated planning approach

Service demand

City of Maribyrnong

East Neighbourhood

South East Neighbourhood

West Neighbourhood

General

Central Neighbourhood

North Neighbourhood

South West Neighbourhood

Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA)

Influencing factors on the levels of demand

Subsidised three-year-old kindergarten

Meeting the needs of families and comparative costs of care

Demand for long day childcare Facility provision models

11 11-13 13

Service supply

Current service levels in the City of Maribyrnong

Sessional kindergarten

Maternal and child health Long day childcare

15 17 18

Infrastructure

Site and building suitability

Preferred service model for an early years centre

Site and building suitability assessment criteria Site and building maintenance

23 25 26

Neighbourhood demand and supply analysis

Acknowledgment

Assumptions

We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the people of the Kulin nation as traditional custodians of the lands on which Maribyrnong City Council is located and where we conduct our business. We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their contribution to society.

East Neighbourhood

Central Neighbourhood North Neighbourhood

South East Neighbourhood

South West Neighbourhood West Neighbourhood

Summary of recommendations

27 37 43 49 54 59 65

Introduction There is powerful new evidence from neuroscience that the early years of development from conception to age six, particularly for the first three years, set the base for competence and coping skills that will affect learning, behaviour and health throughout life.¹ The foundations for a child’s long-term development are laid in early childhood. In these years, children develop crucial cognitive and emotional skills such as

reasoning, problem solving, and how to get along with others. The prime time for the development of vision, emotional control and language is before the age of three, and the prime time for the development of social skills with peers is before the age of six.² A key Council priority and activity is to ensure that there is sufficient and appropriate infrastructure to support the delivery of early years services.

Purpose

Scope

The purpose of the Maribyrnong Early Years Infrastructure Plan 2020–2041 is to:

This infrastructure plan is focussed on Council owned buildings from which the following early years services are delivered, or could potentially be delivered in future:

• identify the early years services and facilities required based upon supply and demand analysis for the municipality and neighbourhoods • identify facilities that require upgrade, expansion, or relocation, and associated timeframes • prioritise projects • guide the development, timing, and location of early years infrastructure. The decision-making principles for the Plan are to: • maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of facilities through the principles of collocation, multi-purpose use and flexibility • provide outcomes toward achieving 20-minute neighbourhoods3 • ensure all recommendations are supported by a quantitative evidence base and are fiscally responsible.

• three-year-old and four-year-old sessional kindergarten • maternal and child health • long day childcare and integrated kindergarten. In addition to the services above, Council provides infrastructure for supported playgroups, occasional childcare, immunisations sessions and other early years services. These services will continue to be catered for by Council as required but are not considered the driver for infrastructure provision and as such are not the focus of this plan.

Reversing the Real Brain Drain, Early Years Study, Final Report, Co-chairs: Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain & J. Fraser Mustard, April 1999 Victoria State Government, Department of Education and Training, Early Childhood Reform Plan Ready for kinder Ready for school Ready for life, p. 10 3 Where people can meet most of their everyday needs within a 20-minute walk, cycle or local public transport trip of their home 1 2

Integrated Planning Approach This document fits comfortably within Council’s suite of strategic planning work relevant to the provision of early years services and Council’s broader strategic objectives for the city. This document provides strategies to meet objectives identified within the Council Plan 2017-21, (including the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan), and the Maribyrnong 2040 Community Plan. Specific to the provision of early year’s services, Council’s Strategy for Children, Young People and Their Families 2020-2030 recognises the role that appropriate infrastructure plays in the ability to meet positive outcomes for children and their families. This document provides the infrastructure development priorities to meet the required outcomes.

The benefits of the use of these boundaries are: • all six neighbourhoods have a minimum size of 10,000 people which is ideal for community infrastructure planning • these neighbourhoods are being used for a suite of Council’s community infrastructure planning, this allows for the appropriate consideration of multi-purpose community facilities The recommendations of this document will be referred to Council’s operational and capital budget planning processes for consideration as appropriate.

The planning model focuses on the impact of projected demand for early years services relative to the supply of Council owned and non-Council owned facilities. The main facility planning criteria are set out below: • quantity and equitable distribution of facilities • quality and fit for purpose of facilities • capacity of sites to deliver appropriate models of service provision to meet the needs of the community now and into the future. This assessment has been undertaken using Council’s six planning neighbourhoods as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Council’s six planning neighbourhoods 4

Service demand General

Central Neighbourhood

Service demand for early years services relates directly to the number of Maribyrnong residents falling within relevant age groups. For early years, the key population cohorts for demand modelling purposes are: • 0 (births) – maternal and child health

• 3-year olds – kindergarten • 4-year olds – kindergarten • 0-4 years old – long day childcare.

The population projections throughout this document were sourced from https://forecast. id.com.au/maribyrnong in December 2019. A comparison of the actual number of births in the City of Maribyrnong in 2019 (1,375) against the projected number (1,591) suggests that the projected rate of population growth is higher than the actual rate. This gap is factored into the demand modelling calculations for all relevant age groups to guard against recommending an overprovision of facilities.

City of Maribyrnong Table 1 shows that the key population cohorts for early years infrastructure are expected to experience rates of growth of between 50% and 59% between 2020 and 2041. Table 1: Municipal population forecasts by early years cohorts 2020 to 2041

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Births

1,621

1,776

1,923

2,124

2,285

2,425

804

50%

1,274

1,406

1,518

1,701

1,836

1,954

680

53%

1,136

1,307

1,401

1,575

1,704

1,811

675

59%

0-4

6,952

7,633

8,254

9,194

9,914

10,536

2020-2041

3,584

2020-2041

52%

The population forecasts for the Central Neighbourhood are shown in Table 2. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience moderate population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 10% for births to 28% for the four-year-old age group. Table 2: Population forecasts for Central Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Births

336

348

351

358

366

370

10%

283

293

298

305

311

315

11%

232

275

279

288

294

297

28%

0-4

1,465

1,548

1,572

1,606

1,642

1,663

198

14%

2020-2041

East Neighbourhood The population forecasts for the East Neighbourhood are shown in Table 3. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience very significant population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 199% for births to 351% for the four-year-old age group and from 10% for births to 28% for the four-year-old age group. Table 3: Population forecasts for East Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Births

161

239

315

390

438

481

320

199%

123

174

244

284

315

223

242%

101

138

202

239

266

207

351%

0-4

564

808

1,100

1,457

1,665

1,840

1,276

226%

2020-2041

Maternal and child health is delivered to children from birth to school age but is planned based on numbers of birth enrolments

North Neighbourhood

South West Neighbourhood

The population forecasts for the North Neighbourhood are shown in Table 4. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience significant population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 75% for births to 95% for the three-year-old age group.

The population forecasts for the South-West Neighbourhood are shown in Table 6. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience moderate population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 39% for births to 43% for the three-year-old age group.

Table 4: Population forecasts for North Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Table 6: Population forecasts for South-West Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Births

366

397

419

498

574

641

275

75%

Births

274

290

314

359

377

382

108

39%

262

316

338

391

454

511

249

95%

250

263

284

327

348

357

107

43%

250

291

314

361

419

473

223

89%

250

256

277

317

340

349

40%

0-4

1,533

1,713

1,825

2,135

2,471

2,773

1,240

81%

0-4

1,297

1,363

1,474

1,688

1,789

1,826

529

41%

2020-2041

South East Neighbourhood

West Neighbourhood

The population forecasts for the South-East Neighbourhood are shown in Table 5. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience moderate population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 5% for births to 18% for the four-year-old age group.

The population forecasts for the West Neighbourhood are shown in Table 7. It shows that the neighbourhood will experience moderate population increases in each of the early years age cohorts, ranging from 30% for the three-year-old age group to 32% for births and the four-year-old age group.

Table 5: Population forecasts for South-East Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Table 7: Population forecasts for West Neighbourhood 2020 to 2041

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Age cohort

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Increase

% Increase

Births

326

330

343

341

339

342

Births

158

172

181

178

191

209

32%

242

257

263

270

266

267

10%

145

154

161

164

173

189

30%

208

235

239

249

245

18%

137

149

154

158

167

181

32%

0-4

1,347

1,402

1,446

1,466

1,451

1,457

110

0-4

746

799

837

842

896

977

231

31%

2020-2041

Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) The Maribyrnong SEIFA Index of Disadvantage measures the relative level of socio-economic disadvantage based on a range of Census characteristics. The index is derived from attributes that reflect disadvantage such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment, and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. A higher score on the index means a lower level of disadvantage. A lower score on the index means a higher level of disadvantage. The percentile column indicates the approximate position in a ranked list of Australia’s suburbs and localities. From Table 8, pockets of disadvantage exist in Maribyrnong – in the Central, East, and West Neighbourhoods.

Table 8: Maribyrnong SEIFA Index

Area

2016 index

Percentile

South East Neighbourhood

1,066.3

South West Neighbourhood

1,037.6

North Neighbourhood

1,015.9

Central Neighbourhood

986.4

East Neighbourhood

958.8

West Neighbourhood

828.2

City of Maribyrnong

995.0

Victoria

1,010.0

Australia

1,001.9

Influencing Factors on the Levels of Demand

Table 9: Indicative cost comparisons between kindergarten provision models for 4yo’s available in City of Maribyrnong facilities in 2020

Subsidised Three-Year-Old Kindergarten The Victorian Government recently announced the introduction of two years of preschool education. Subsidised funding for kindergarten services will now become available for threeyear-old children, in both sessional kindergartens and in kindergarten programs within long day childcare settings. From 2020, the initiative will roll out in stages, with services in six rural local government areas (LGAs) offering up to 15 hours of kindergarten to three-year-olds. In 2021, a further 15 rural LGAs will offer up to 15 hours of kindergarten to

Type of care

Long day childcare including integrated kindergarten

The Victorian Government has committed $1.68 billion over the next decade to support almost 1,000 new and upgraded kindergartens across the state.

5 days per week of care (approx. 55 hours per week)

Sessional kindergarten with wrap around care (2 days) and long day childcare (3 days)

$1,405 (K) + $4,110 (LDC) = $5,515 (Clare Crt)

Sessional kindergarten with wrap around care (3 days) and long day childcare (2 days)

$2,775 (K) + $2,740 (LDC) = $5,515 (Clare Crt)

5 days per week of care (approx. 55 hours per week) • 2 days of sessional kindergarten (7.5 hour sessions) with wrap-around care • 3 days of long day child care 5 days per week of care (approx. 55 hours per week) • 3 days of sessional kindergarten (5 hour sessions) with wrap-around care • 2 days of long day child care

3 full days per week Long day childcare including integrated kindergarten

children (aged 4-5) in the same facility. It is not always possible for services to meet demand across the different ages. In our municipality, many facilities have higher demand for 0-3yo’s.

$4,110 (Clare Crt)

3 days per week of care (approx. 33 hours per week) • 3 days of integrated kindergarten (5 hour sessions) within long day childcare

Sessional kindergarten with wrap around care

$2,775 (Clare Crt)

3 days per week of care (approx. 33 hours per week) • 3 days of sessional kindergarten (5 hour sessions) with wrap-around care

2 full days per week Sessional kindergarten with wrap around care

$1,405 (Clare Crt)

2 days per week of care (approx. 22 hours per week) • 2 days of sessional kindergarten (7.5 hour sessions) with wrap-around care

of Maribyrnong for a 10-week term. The costs (excluding means-tested childcare subsidy) range from $6,850 for 5 full days of care (including integrated kindergarten) to $440 for 15 hours of sessional kindergarten only.

Sessional Kindergarten only

Table 9 provides a comparison of the costs of the main models of care available for 4yo’s in the City

$6,850 (Clare Crt)

• 3 days of integrated kindergarten (5 hour days) within long day childcare

Meeting the Needs of Families and Comparative Costs of Care Families have a number of options available to them to meet their early years education and childcare needs. It is acknowledged that a range of service models will continue to be required to meet the diverse needs of families in future.

Comments

5 full days per week

three-year-olds. From 2022, every three-year-old Victorian child across the state will have access to at least five hours of kindergarten delivered by a qualified teacher. Kindergartens will then scale up their hours to reach the full 15-hour program by 2029.

Demand for Long Day Childcare Long day childcare is a complex service to operate. The regulated nature of the service and facilities results in some long day childcare operators having a waiting list for younger children (aged 0-3) and available places for older

Cost per Term (10 weeks)5

Sessional kindergarten (2 days)

$440 (Braybrook / Cherry Cres) to $580 (Angliss)

Sessional kindergarten (3 days)

$440 (Braybrook) to $580 (Angliss)

15 hours per week of care • 2 x 7.5 hour sessions 15 hours per week of care • 3 x 5 hour sessions

Costs shown are exclusive of any means tested child care subsidy

Meeting the Needs of Families and Comparative Costs of Care (cont.) Sessional kindergarten remains a popular choice for families. Sessional kindergarten is now available in a range of two and three session models. Wrap around programs are also becoming more prevalent.

The remaining costs are covered by parent fees and fundraising revenue. It is becoming increasingly difficult for facility operators to contribute to maintenance and capital projects.

Kindergarten with wrap around care provides a cheaper alternative for parents than a full day of long day childcare. This model provides for working families so that parents can drop off and pick up their children on the way to and from work. It also provides for parents that work part-time or that are able to share childcare responsibilities.

Long day childcare is centre based, offering a full day of education and care; normally at least eight hours a day.

The State and Commonwealth Governments provide partial funding for four-year-old kindergarten on a per child basis. This funding primarily covers operational costs only. This funding has remained without increase for a number of years.

Most services include an integrated fouryear-old kindergarten program. If parents nominate the centre as their kindergarten, then the centre receives the kindergarten funding, which it puts towards its staffing requirement. No discount is applied to the long day childcare fees the parent pays. As long day childcare services run for 49-50 weeks per year, parents are also required to pay during holiday times unless the place can be sold-on.

Facility Provision Models The investment in early years buildings now generally involves the provision of a range of complementary services. Single purpose buildings were the typical model up until the 2000’s, however families are particularly interested in facilities where they are able to utilise a range of services at the one location.

In addition, Council’s provision model is to provide facilities that are managed by committees of management or not-for-profit service providers through leases and service agreements. Facilities must provide spaces of a size and scale that allow the provision of a range of services at each site to encourage financial sustainability.

As such, planning for future integrated services must consider the working, studying and travel patterns of parents to ensure supply and demand assessments are accurate. 13

Service supply Current Service Levels in the City of Maribyrnong

Maternal and child health

Table 10 below sets out the current levels of service provision in Maribyrnong for the primary early years service areas.

Table 11 shows the number of maternal and child health rooms in Council owned and community facilities. Table 11: Maternal and child health rooms 2020

Table 10: Service levels in the City of Maribyrnong

Service type

Maternal and child health 2018 4yo sessional kindergarten 2019

Long day childcare in Council facilities 2018 Long day childcare in non-Council facilities 2018 Long day childcare total 2018

Age cohort

Facility name

Cohort projected population

Service availability

births

1,573

16 rooms

1,317 M&CH enrolments

0.84 enrolments per projected birth

4yo

1,110

700 places

698 4yo sessional kindergarten enrolments

0.63 enrolments per projected 4yo

941 enrolments

1 place per 10.75 projected 0-4yo 1.6 enrolments per place

1,381 enrolments

1 place per 7 projected 0-4yo 1.5 enrolments per place

2,322 enrolments

1 place per 4.25 projected 0-4yo

0-4yo

6,494

604 places

924 places

1,528 places

Service provision

Per unit

Rooms

Neighbourhood

Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre*

Central

Maidstone Child and Family Centre

Central

Angliss Children’s Centre

East

Maribyrnong City Council (Town Hall)

East

Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre

North

Norfolk Street Childcare Centre

South East

Clare Court Children’s Services

South West

Roberts Street Maternal and Child Health Centre

South West

Braybrook Community Hub

West

Total

Note: *Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre is not currently Council owned but is reverting to Council ownership in 2024.

Sessional kindergarten

Table 13: Potential additional kindergarten sites

Table 12 lists the maximum number of kindergarten places available in Council and community owned sessional kindergartens from 2020. The maximum number of kindergarten places that can be offered is based on two groups (at 15 hours per group), per room, per week having regard for the number of approved places per room. Table 12: Sessional kindergarten places 2020

Facility name

Rooms

Maximum capacity

Neighbourhood

Church Street Children’s Centre

Central

Maidstone Child and Family Centre

198***

Central

Angliss Children’s Centre

East

Hyde Street Kindergarten*

East

Maribyrnong Kindergarten

North

North Maidstone Kindergarten

North

Yarraville Community Kindergarten

South East

Clare Court Children’s Services

120***

South West

Kingsville Kindergarten

South West

Merriwa Kindergarten**

South West

Braybrook Community Hub

154***

West

Cherry Crescent Preschool

West

898

Total

Facility name

Rooms Maximum capacity

Neighbourhood

West Footscray Library and Neighbourhood House

Central

Maribyrnong Community Centre

North

Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House

South East

Note: *Hyde Street Kindergarten closed at the end of 2019. **Merriwa Kindergarten is not Council owned but participates in the central registration system. ***It is possible to run an additional group at the 3 room sites that would increase the capacity by 17%.

In addition to the above, Table 13 shows the existing Council owned sites that have the potential to be licensed as a sessional kindergarten. These sites are already being used for various children’s programs and could be used as 3yo or 4yo kindergarten as overflow or short term solutions if required.

Long day childcare

Table 15 shows the number of licensed childcare places in non-Council owned facilities that are either operational or under construction.

Table 14 shows the number of licensed childcare places in Council owned facilities as of 2020. Table 15: Long day childcare places in non-Council owned facilities 2020

Table 14: Long day childcare places in Council owned facilities 2020

Licenced childcare places

Neighbourhood

Brenbeal Children’s Centre

Central

Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre*

108

Central

Church Street Children’s Centre

Central

53**

East

Saltwater Child Care Centre

East

Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre

107

North

Norfolk Street Childcare Centre

South East

Clare Court Children’s Services

114

South West

Total

640

Facility name

Angliss Children’s Centre

Note: *Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre is not currently Council owned but is reverting to Council ownership in 2024. ** Angliss Children’s Centre actually has a capacity for 68 places but as they run a 15 place kindergarten from the same room, the number of remaining available places is 53.

Licenced childcare places

Neighbourhood

Little VIP’s Child Care

Central

The Learning Sanctuary (Footscray)

100

Central

Victoria University Footscray Nicholson

East

Explorers Early Learning

160

North

Highpoint Kinder Haven

105

North

Only About Children

North

The Learning Sanctuary (Yarraville)

100

South East

Nino Early Learning Adventures

145

South West

The Hive Early Learning Centre

South West

Good Start Early Learning

West

Harmony Early Learning Centre

116

West

Little Champs Care

West

Facility name

Total

1131

Note: Facilities marked with * have planning approval and are under construction for opening in 2020.

In 2020, there will be 1,771 long day childcare places available throughout the municipality. Council’s provision of 640 places represents 36% of the total available places. In addition to the above, the table shows the sites within the municipality that have planning approval for privately operated long day childcare services but are yet to be constructed. There are no known construction dates for these proposed privately owned facilities.

Table 16 shows the sites within the municipality that have planning approval for privately operated long day childcare services but are yet to be constructed. There are no known construction dates for these proposed privately owned facilities.

Table 16: Planning approved long day childcare places in non-Council owned facilities

Licenced childcare places

Neighbourhood

11-13 Picket Street, Footscray

110

East

2 Neilson Place, Footscray

100

East

307 Williamstown Road, Yarraville

170

South East

248-252 Somerville Road, Kingsville

South West

Facility name

Total

475

There are a number of other non-Council sites in various stages of planning for early years facilities such as the proposed 65 place KU Children’s Centre at 7 Hampstead Road Maidstone. This facility and other proposed facilities that do not have a planning permit, have not been included in the calculations as they have not been confirmed and the timing is unknown.

Infrastructure Site and building suitability Of the 14 Council-owned buildings from which early years services are to be delivered in 2020, 57% are over 30 years old. Early years facilities have an assumed asset life of 50 years. Based on this assumption, Maribyrnong has a high proportion of buildings that are either past this date or approaching it. In addition, there are many buildings that are unable to meet the best practice standards relating to the delivery of early childhood services. Figure 2: Council-owned building age profile

Site and building suitability assessment criteria Of the 14 Council-owned buildings from which early years services are to be delivered in 2020, 57% are over 30 years old. Early years facilities have an assumed asset life of 50 years. Based on this assumption, Maribyrnong has a high proportion of buildings that are either past this date or approaching it. In addition, there are many buildings that are unable to meet the best practice standards relating to the delivery of early childhood services. Table 17: Assessment criteria for site and building suitability

Building age profile

Aspect / Element

Purpose / Description •

Site

• • • •

Location

1 Facility condition

0 1-10

11-20

21-30

41-50

51-60

Years

Building functional suitability

•

Catchment to be serviced and overall distribution of facilities Proximity to other like services (either competitors or potential partners) Proximity to schools and other services. Consistent with place-based outcomes Active transport options

• •

Condition, function and compliance of the building Maintenance and operating costs

• • •

Number of rooms and approved places Capacity to meet the needs of children and parents Capacity to meet the needs of children from vulnerable and/or disadvantaged families, children with disabilities, etc Collocated services. Ability to support integrated models of early learning and care Flexible and adaptive design to accommodates changes in service models and use Environmental impact Financial viability

•

• • • •

Site size and orientation. Future sites should ideally be 2500sqm or above Suitability of street location and impact on neighbours / traffic Capacity for upgrade or expansion

Preferred Service Model for an Early Years Centre While the scale and scope of new investments needs to be tailored to suit circumstances, the preferred service model for a Council provided early years centre generally comprises: • two maternal and child health rooms • two sessional kindergarten rooms (each room licenced for 33 children) • one long day childcare service (licenced for a minimum 90 children) • one additional, multi-purpose space for playgroups / occasional child care / immunisation / parents’ groups / kindergarten etc.6 • ancillary spaces for staff amenities, offices, etc. • outdoor space of 10sqm per licenced place.7 • a land parcel of 2500sqm or above.

Site and building maintenance • it encourages staff to collaborate, share ideas and engage in combined professional development • it facilitates enhanced learning, development and wellbeing opportunities for children and families as staff can share knowledge and areas of concern / opportunities • it increases the opportunity for families to be actively involved in their community • it is critical in establishing and maintaining engagement with vulnerable and disadvantaged families as their children move through the service system.

The justification of this model for Council provided early years centres is: • it provides families with a convenient ‘onestop-shop’ approach whereby they can access early childhood education and care, and health and development services at the one place • it provides for operational and financial efficiencies that make services more financially stable and able to contribute to facility maintenance • it recognises that single service and smaller facilities are becoming less attractive to service providers as the operating cost margins are too narrow.

Maintenance to keep a simple, relatively small building in shape can be from 1.5% to 3% of replacement cost (the older the building the more should be allowed). Also, as a building nears mid-life or greater (or alternatively needs to respond to community expectations that are changing over time), and given the term ‘maintenance’ is often loosely used to take in some alteration for change of use, codes and standards compliance, it can be appropriate to factor in a rehabilitation allowance based on facility life cycles - 0.5% to 1.5% of replacement cost would not be unreasonable.

The asset profile suggests that an ongoing renewal and rehabilitation program will be required to keep the facilities in an acceptable condition and capable of supporting early years programs and services, particularly as they evolve. The required level of maintenance funding, incorporating renewal and rehabilitation, for the existing asset base (with a replacement cost of $50-$60 million) is likely to be in the order of $1.4 million per annum.

In summary, for the early years buildings, a broad-brush allowance for maintenance funding would be in the range of 2% to 4.5% depending on the age, importance, profile and reliance applied to the facility in question.

Recommendations That Council initiate the following maintenance activities: • undertake annual compliance and fit for purpose assessments of buildings and prepare 10 year program of building maintenance and upgrade. The 10 year program should be updated annually. • undertake annual compliance and fit for purpose assessments of outdoor play areas and prepare 10 year program of play area maintenance and upgrade. The 10 year program should be updated annually.

Note that the multi-purpose space needs to be generally available to all potential users and not ‘owned’ by the centre’s primary user. This availability needs to be reinforced through service agreements, memoranda of understanding, etc and needs to be supported by Council internal processes to ensure success. 7 This is greater than the regulated minimum of 7sqm per child and is preferred for quality purposes. 6

Neighbourhood Demand and Supply Analysis Assumptions Table 18 sets out the key assumptions made in aligning service demand and supply. Table 18: Key assumptions in aligning service demand and supply

Item

Assumption •

Maternal and child health

• • •

3yo sessional kindergarten

• • •

•

4yo sessional kindergarten

• •

Item

•

The current municipal usage rate for maternal and child health is 84% of annual projected births. This usage rate is projected to continue to apply to 2041. Council is projected to supply 100% of maternal and child health places. A ratio of 120 birth enrolments per maternal and child health consulting room has been applied.

•

Long day childcare

Subsidised 3yo sessional kindergarten will commence with five hours per week in 2022 and increase progressively to 15 hours per week by 2029. It is projected that by 2029, the municipal usage rate will be the same as for 4yos, i.e. 63% of the annual projected age cohort. A ratio of two 15 hour kindergarten sessions per room per week has been applied. Council is projected to supply 100% of future sessional kindergarten places.

•

The current usage rate for 4yo sessional kindergarten in the municipality is 63% of the annual projected age cohort. This usage rate is projected to continue to apply to 2041. A ratio of two 15 hour kindergarten sessions per room per week has been applied. Council is projected to supply 100% of future sessional kindergarten places.

Service Agreements for provision of kindergarten and long day childcare

Assumption The current usage rate for long day childcare in the municipality is 35.8% of the annual projected age cohort. This usage rate is projected to continue to apply as a minimum, but more likely increase to 2041. In 2020, there are 3.93 children aged 0-4 per approved long day childcare place in the municipality. This is below the Victorian average of 3.07 children aged 0-4 per approved place8. The Victorian average rate is considered as the target for the municipality. On average, each long day childcare place caters for 1.5 enrolments in the municipality. This is projected to continue to apply to 2041. Council currently supplies 36% of long day childcare places within the municipality. 33% of places is considered to be an appropriate target. While Council owns the buildings from which early years services are provided, sessional kindergarten and long day childcare are delivered by a mix of committees of management and not-for-profit early years managers. Service agreements between Council and service providers must ensure services provide programming models that maximise the capacity of both the buildings and the timetabling opportunities.

Urban Economics 2018

Figure 3: Early years facilities in the Central Neighbourhood

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit)

Central Neighbourhood

Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

The Central Neighbourhood is one of the more disadvantaged areas in the municipality, falling within the 37th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase at a moderate rate of 14%. The Central Neighbourhood has four Council owned early years facilities.

Table 19: Council owned facilities in the Central Neighbourhood

Facility name

Sessional kindergarten

Church Street Children’s Centre

Yes

Maidstone Child and Family Centre

Yes

MCH

Other

Yes Yes

Brenbeal Children’s Centre Bulldog’s Community Children’s Center

LDC

Yes

The following tables compare the level of supply for the early years services (i.e. maternal and child health, three and four-year-old sessional kindergarten, and long day childcare) and the anticipated demand levels based on population forecasts, and the assumptions set out in Table 18.

Maternal and child health Table 20: Maternal and child health supply and demand - Central Neighbourhood

In addition, the Council owned West Footscray Library and Neighbourhood House could be used for early years services, and there are two private long day childcare centres - Little VIP’s Child Care and The Learning Sanctuary (Footscray).

Supply - MCH rooms

Figure 3 shows the location of early years facilities in the Central Neighbourhood.

Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births Relationship to Benchmark Provision

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

+2.7

+2.6

+2.5

+2.4

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten

Council facilities Church Street Children’s Centre The Church Street Children’s Centre is newly constructed and commenced operation in 2020. It is a two-storey, long day childcare centre with a single sessional kindergarten room.

Table 21: Sessional kindergarten supply and demand - Central Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

242

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

131

192

196

198

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

146

173

175

181

185

187

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

+96

-25

-65

-131

-138

-143

Supply - total places

Note: *As subsidised 3yo kinder does not begin until 2022, demand in 2019 has been listed as 0. Also the rate of demand for 3yo kinder has been assessed to rise from 0.2 places per 3yo in 2020 to reach 0.63 places per 3yo in 2031.

Long day childcare

Site size

1,402m2

Year built

2019

Building condition

Excellent

Building fit for purpose

Yes

Opportunity for expansion

No. Site is at full capacity

Maidstone Child and Family Centre The Maidstone Child and Family Centre has three sessional kindergarten rooms, four maternal and child health rooms and a multi-purpose room. Table 24: Maidstone Child and Family Centre Site and Building Assessment

Table 22: Long day childcare supply and demand – Central Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - Council places

254

Supply - non-Council places

160

Supply - Total places

414

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

477

504

512

523

535

542

Relationship to Benchmark Provision Council places (33% of demand)

+97

+88

+85

+81

+77

+75

Relationship to Benchmark Provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

-160

-178

-183

-190

-198

-203

Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction. 31

Table 23: Church Street Children’s Centre Site and Building Assessment

Site size

14,817m2

Year built

2014

Building condition

Excellent

Building fit for purpose

Yes: • Two of the four maternal and child health rooms are currently leased to external service providers to provide health services for children. • The multi-purpose room is underutilised. There are improvements required in the management of the space to facilitate more community use.

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • The Centre borders Shepherd Gardens and taking over open space may generate local opposition It may be possible to build a second storey, but it is questionable whether the residential street is a suitable location. 32

Brenbeal Children’s Centre The Brenbeal Children’s Centre is a long day childcare centre. Table 25: Brenbeal Children’s Centre Site and Building Assessment

Site size

1,476m2

Year built

1994

Building condition

Average

Building fit for purpose

Yes, however single purpose sites are not preferred

Opportunity for expansion

Yes: • Council owned space adjacent to the site could be utilised • Potential to add sessional kindergarten and maternal and child health to this site.

Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre The Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre was constructed by the Western Bulldogs on Council owned land under a 15-year lease arrangement. The facility will revert to Council ownership in 2024. The single-room maternal and child health service on this site is currently operating above the preferred capacity. Table 26: Bulldog’s Community Children’s Centre Site and Building Assessment

Site size

7,384m2

Year built

2010

Building condition

Good

Building fit for purpose

Opportunity for expansion

Partial: • Single M&CH room is not preferred model and room is too small with no waiting area Limited: • Western Bulldogs are undertaking a masterplan of the site. Service provision may be compromised in the future.

West Footscray Library and Neighbourhood House The West Footscray Library and Neighbourhood House has a licenced space that is currently utilised for occasional childcare and activity groups. This program is run by the West Footscray Neighbourhood House. Table 27: West Footscray Library and Neighbourhood House Site and Building Assessment

Site size

628m2

Year built

2006

Building condition

Excellent

Building fit for purpose

Potentially fit for an overflow sessional kindergarten service

Opportunity for expansion

No. Site is developed to full capacity

Comments Maternal and child health

Long day childcare

At present, the Central Neighbourhood has a surplus of maternal and child health rooms out to 2041. However, there is some uncertainty about the long term viability and suitability of the room at the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre. It may be appropriate, therefore, to include the provision of two maternal and child health rooms as part of a future redevelopment/expansion/replacement of another site in the Central neignbourhood.

With the opening of the new Church Street Children’s Centre and the Bulldogs Community Children’s Centre reverting to Council in 2024, long day childcare services (Council owned buildings) are adequately catered for. Capacity shortages are forecast, however, for private long day childcare. This will need to be monitored for impact on demand for Council long day care services.

Sessional kindergarten With subsidised kindergarten for three-year-olds commencing in 2022, additional capacity will be required by 2026. A redevelopment/expansion of an existing site to include two additional sessional kindergarten rooms will be required.

Development sites The current Footscray Hospital site will become vacant once the hospital is relocated to its new location on Ballarat Road in 2025. Planning is underway to determine the future use of the site.

Recommendations That Council: • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2023/24, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the forecast increase in demand by 2027. • Continue to liaise with Western Bulldogs Football Club in relation to the handing back of the Bulldogs Children’s Centre to Council in 2024 in recognition of Western Bulldogs long term planning for the precinct. 35

Figure 4: Early years facilities in the East Neighbourhood

East Neighbourhood

The East Neighbourhood is one of the more disadvantaged areas in the municipality, falling within the 25th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase significantly by 226%. The East Neighbourhood has three Council owned early years facilities.

Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

Table 28: Council owned facilities in the East Neighbourhood

Facility name Angliss Children’s Centre Maribyrnong City Council (Town Hall) Saltwater Child Care Centre

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit)

Sessional kindergarten

MCH

LDC

Yes

Other

Yes Yes

In addition, there are three private, long day childcare centres - Victoria University Footscray Nicholson, 11-13 Picket Street, Footscray (planning approval only), and 2 Neilson Place, Footscray (planning approval only).

Maternal and child health Table 29: Maternal and child health supply and demand - East Neighbourhood

Supply - MCH rooms

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

1.1

1.7

2.2

2.7

3.1

3.4

+1.9

+1.3

+0.8

+0.3

-0.1

-0.4

Figure 4 shows the location of the early years facilities in the East Neighbourhood. Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births Relationship to Benchmark Provision

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten

Council facilities Angliss Children’s Centre The Angliss Children’s Centre is a long day childcare centre and a single maternal and child health room. The Centre offers both integrated and sessional kindergarten in the one room.

Table 30: Sessional kindergarten supply and demand - Central Neighbourhood

Table 32: Angliss Children’s Centre Site and Building Assessment

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - total places

Site size

1,501m2

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

153

179

198

Year built

1989

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

127

150

167

Building condition

Average

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

-7

-73

-133

-250

-299

-335

Building fit for purpose

Partial: • Single M&CH room is not preferred model.

Long day childcare

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Investigation would need to occur in to the opportunity to build a second level.

Maribyrnong City Council (Town Hall) The Maribyrnong City Council (Town Hall) has two maternal and child health rooms.

Table 31: Long day childcare supply and demand – East Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - Council places

Supply - non-Council places

Supply - Total places

138

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

184

263

358

475

542

599

Relationship to Benchmark Provision Council places (33% of demand)

+38

+12

-19

-58

-80

-99

Relationship to Benchmark Provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

-84

-137

-201

-279

-324

-363

Table 33: Town Hall Site and Building Assessment

Site size

8,654m2

Year built

1988

Building condition

Average

Building fit for purpose

Yes: • However, the location does not support a suitable service provision model. Ideally would be matched with another early years service.

Opportunity for expansion

No: • Already part of a multi-purpose building that would not be suitable for expansion.

Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction.

Saltwater Child Care Centre The Saltwater Child Care Centre is a long day childcare centre.

Comments

Table 34: Saltwater Child Care Centre Site and Building Assessment

Maternal and child health

Long day childcare

The existing facilities are sufficient to cope with the forecast level of demand. The Maribyrnong Town Hall facility though is located within an office setting that is not conducive to efficient and effective service provision. The town hall building is also subject to assessment for redevelopment. There is potential for the maternal and child health service to be relocated as part of a potential redevelopment at an alternate site.

The two, Council owned, long day childcare facilities are located close together and are well utilised. Their capacities, however, are below what is considered to be a viable size and they may struggle financially over coming years. Additional long day childcare capacity is required immediately due to the lack of private facilities in the neighbourhood.

Sessional kindergarten

The East Neighbourhood has major development sites at Joseph Road and the former Kinnear’s Ropeworks. The sites are major contributors to the neighbourhood’s anticipated population growth and provide opportunities for the location of new early years facilities.

Site size

1,389m2

Year built

1980

Building condition

Average

Building fit for purpose

No: • Site is single service and only offers 46 places of long day childcare. It is likely to be too small to sustain in the medium term considering that the building is 40 years old.

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Site is small and location adjacent to future Footscray Hospital site (over Geelong Road) is likely to create difficulties with future access.

With the closure of the Hyde Street Kindergarten, only 30 places of sessional kindergarten are currently available in the East Neighbourhood. To accommodate the demand for places that is forecast due to population growth and subsidised three-year-old kindergarten, a two room facility is required as soon as possible, followed by an additional two rooms by 2026, with a further two rooms required by 2033.

Development sites

Recommendations That Council: • Work with Victorian School Building Authority to complete the development of Hyde Street Early Learning Centre project. Refer approx. $4m to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2021/22 to contribute to the project. • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2022/23, of the options available to provide a preferred model early years facility by 2026.

Figure 5: Early years facilities in the North Neighbourhood

North Neighbourhood

The North Neighbourhood is one of the less disadvantaged areas in the municipality, falling within the 54th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase substantially by 89%. The North Neighbourhood has three Council owned early years facilities.

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit)

Table 35: Council owned early years facilities in the North Neighbourhood

Facility name

Sessional kindergarten

Maribyrnong Kindergarten

Yes

North Maidstone Kindergarten

Yes

Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre

MCH

LDC

Other

Yes Yes

Yes

In addition, the Council owned Maribyrnong Community Centre could be used for early years services, and there are three private, long day childcare centres - Explorers Early Learning, Highpoint Kinder Haven, and Only About Children. Figure 5 shows the location of the early years facilities in the North Neighbourhood.

Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

Maternal and child health Table 36: Maternal and child health in Council facilities supply and demand – North Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births

2.6

2.8

2.9

3.5

4.0

4.5

Relationship to benchmark provision

-0.6

-0.8

-0.9

-1.5

-2.0

-2.5

Supply - MCH rooms

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten

Council facilities Maribyrnong Kindergarten The Maribyrnong Kindergarten is a one room sessional kindergarten.

Table 37: Sessional kindergarten in Council facilities supply and demand – North Neighbourhood

Table 39: Maribyrnong Kindergarten Site and Building Assessment

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

124

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

101

149

246

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

157

183

197

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

-33

-160

-222

Supply - total places

Site size

1,507m2

124

Year built

1960

285

321

Building condition

Average

227

263

297

Building fit for purpose

Yes, however single purpose sites are not preferred.

-349

-425

-495

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Possible to expand the service provision on site but questionable whether the residential street is suitable location.

Long day childcare

North Maidstone Kindergarten The North Maidstone Kindergarten is a one room sessional kindergarten with multi-purpose room.

Table 38: Long day childcare supply and demand – North Neighbourhood

Table 40: North Maidstone Kindergarten Site and Building Assessment

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Site size

4,623m2 (adjacent to open space)

Supply - Council places

107

Year built

1960 - with extension in 2005

Supply - non-Council places

335

Building condition

Good

Supply - Total places

442

Building fit for purpose

Yes, however single purpose sites are not preferred.

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

499

558

594

695

805

903

Opportunity for expansion

Yes: • Potential to increase the service provision on this site.

Relationship to benchmark provision Council places (33% of demand)

-58

-77

-89

-122

-159

-191

Relationship to benchmark provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

-39

-63

-131

-204

-270

Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction.

Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre The Maribyrnong River Children’s Centre provides long day childcare and two maternal and child health rooms.

Comments Maternal and child health

Long day childcare

Table 41: Saltwater Child Care Centre Site and Building Assessment

Forecast population growth demands the provision of an additional three maternal and child health rooms in the North Neighbourhood by 2041. Residents in the southern portion of this neighbourhood are currently accessing maternal and child health services in the Central Neighbourhood where there is greater service supply.

There is a current deficit of Council provided long day childcare in the North neighbourhood. This deficit is projected to rise to 191 places by 2041. An investigation of the appropriate method of catering for this demand is required.

Site size

3,161m2

Year built

1999 - extended in 2015

Building condition

Good

Building fit for purpose

Yes

Opportunity for expansion

Yes: • Site is large and suitable for increased service provision in future.

Maribyrnong Community Centre The Maribyrnong Community Centre has two licenced spaces that have until the end of 2019 been being used as overflow while the Church Street Children’s Centre was built.

Sessional kindergarten There is a current deficit of sessional kindergarten places (33) in the North neighbourhood. This deficit is projected to rise to 495 places by 2041. The appropriate sites for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the forecast increase in demand must be investigated and resolved in order to meet this demand. In addition, a new facility should also be provided at the defence site at the appropriate time.

Development sites The North Neighbourhood has major development sites at the Defence site, Highpoint, and Hampstead Road. The sites are major contributors to the neighbourhood’s anticipated population growth and provides opportunities for the location of new, early years facilities.

Table 42: Maribyrnong Community Centre Site and Building Assessment

Site size

3,819m2

Year built

1986

Building condition

Average

Building fit for purpose

Potentially fit for purpose for an overflow sessional kindergarten service

Opportunity for expansion

No, site is developed to full capacity

Recommendations That Council: • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2021/22, to consider the appropriate development of a preferred service model early years facility by 2024. • Undertake an internal assessment in 2021/22, of the opportunity to repurpose part of the Maribyrnong Community Centre as a kindergarten for a 3yo program. • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2025/26, to consider the appropriate development of a preferred service model early years facility by 2029. • Monitor the planning process for the development of the Defence Site in order to secure an appropriate site for a preferred service model early years facility at the appropriate time.

Figure 6: Early years facilities in the South east neighbourhood

South East Neighbourhood

The South-East Neighbourhood is the least disadvantaged area in the municipality, falling within the 85th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase at a moderate rate of 8%. The South-East Neighbourhood has one Council owned early years facility.

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit) Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

Table 43: Council owned early years facilities in the South East Neighbourhood

Facility name Norfolk Street Childcare Centre and Yarraville Community Kindergarten

Sessional kindergarten

MCH

LDC

Yes

Other

In addition, the Council owned Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House could be used for early years services, and there are two private, long day childcare centres - 307 Williamstown Road, Yarraville (planning approval only) and The Learning Sanctuary (Yarraville).

Maternal and child health Table 44: Maternal and child health in Council facilities supply and demand – South-East Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births

2.3

2.4

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

-1.3

-1.4

Figure 6 shows the facilities in the South-East Neighbourhood. Supply - MCH rooms

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten

Council facilities Norfolk Street Childcare Centre and Yarraville Community Kindergarten The Norfolk Street Childcare Centre and Yarraville Community Kindergarten combines single kindergarten room, long day childcare and a maternal and child health room.

Table 45: Sessional kindergarten in Council facilities supply and demand – South-East Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - total places

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

116

170

167

168

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

131

148

150

157

154

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

-65

-164

-200

-260

-255

-256

Table 47: Norfolk Street Childcare Centre and Yarraville Community Kindergarten Site and Building Assessment

Site size

2,820m2

Year built

1975

Building condition

Average / Poor

Building fit for purpose

No: • Single M&CH room is not preferred model • Site shape and building configuration are sub-optimal.

Opportunity for expansion

Long day childcare

No: • Residential street is not suitable location for further expansion of service.

Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House The Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House has a licenced space that is currently utilised for occasional childcare and activity groups. This program is run by the Yarraville Community Centre.

Table 46: Long day childcare supply and demand – South-East Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - Council places

Supply - non-Council places

100

Site size

19,872m2 (adjacent to open space)

Supply - Total places

166

Year built

1880

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

439

457

471

478

473

475

Building condition

Poor

Relationship to Benchmark Provision Council places (33% of demand)

Building fit for purpose

-79

-85

-89

-92

-90

-91

Opportunity for expansion

Relationship to Benchmark Provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

-194

-206

-216

-220

-217

-218

No: • The facility condition is too poor to consider investment in expansion.

Table 48: Blackwood Street Neighbourhood House Site and Building Assessment

Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction.

South West Neighbourhood

Comments Maternal and child health

Development sites

The current population demands the provision of an additional 1.3 maternal and child health rooms in the South East Neighbourhood. This demand remains constant for the next 20 years.

There is limited land available in the SouthEast Neighbourhood. If land for the new early years facilities cannot be located within the neighbourhood then a combined approach with the South-West Neighbourhood may be an alternative option.

Sessional kindergarten There is a current deficit of sessional kindergarten places (65) in the South East Neighbourhood. This deficit is projected to rise to 256 places by 2041. There are very limited opportunities within this neighbourhood to meet this demand. Some creative solutions will need to be considered. Long day childcare There is a current deficit of long day childcare in Council owned facilities in the South East Neighbourhood. This deficit is projected to rise to 91 places by 2041. As mentioned above, there are limited opportunities within this neighbourhood to meet this demand. Some creative solutions will need to be considered.

Norfolk Street Childcare Centre and Yarraville Community Kindergarten are collocated but not integrated. The site is heavily constrained and located in a built up residential area with significant traffic and parking issues. Redevelopment of the facilities on the existing site is not considered ideal but given the limited opportunities for relocation, must be considered.

The South West Neighbourhood is one of the least disadvantaged areas in the municipality, falling within the 69th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase moderately at 41%. The South West Neighbourhood has two Council early years facilities plus the Merriwa Kindergarten.

Table 49: Council owned early years facilities in the South West Neighbourhood

Facility name

Clare Court Children’s Centre Kingsville Kindergarten and Roberts Street Maternal and Child Health Centre

Sessional kindergarten

MCH

LDC

Other

Yes

Recommendations That Council: • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2021/22, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the forecast increase in demand for sessional kindergarten and long day childcare by 2025.

In addition, there are three private, long day childcare centres - 248-252 Somerville Road, Kingsville (planning approval only), Nino Early Learning Adventures (under construction), and The Hive Early Learning Centre. Figure 7 shows the facilities in the South West Neighbourhood.

Figure 7: Early years facilities in the South West Neighbourhood

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten Table 51: Sessional kindergarten in Council facilities supply and demand – South West Neighbourhood Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

Maternal and child health Table 50: Maternal and child health in Council facilities supply and demand – South West Neighbourhood

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

2026

2031

2036

2041

230

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

125

206

219

224

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

157

161

174

199

214

219

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

+73

-15

-69

-175

-203

-214

Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births

2023

Supply - total places

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit)

Supply - MCH rooms

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

1.9 +1.1

2.0 +1.0

2.2 +0.8

2.5 +0.5

2.6 +0.4

2.7

Long day childcare Table 52: Long day childcare supply and demand – South West Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - Council places

114

Supply - non-Council places

211

Supply - Total places

325

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

442

444

480

550

583

595

Relationship to Benchmark Provision Council places (33% of demand)

-25

-33

-44

-67

-78

-82

Relationship to Benchmark Provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

-72

-86

-111

-157

-179

-188

+0.3 Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction.

Council facilities

Comments

Clare Court Children’s Centre The Clare Court Children’s Centre combines a three room sessional kindergarten, long day childcare, two room maternal and child health service and a multi-purpose room.

Maternal and child health

Long day childcare

The supply of maternal and child health facilities in the South-West Neighbourhood is considered appropriate to meet demand until 2041. The Kingsville Kindergarten, however, is collocated with the Roberts Street Maternal and Child Health Centre. Investigations into the former will require consideration of the latter.

There is currently a significant shortage of long day childcare places, although this will change when the planned private facilities are operational. A shortage of Council places (82) is projected and should be considered as part of any investigation into the future facility development.

Sessional kindergarten

Development sites

By 2026, there will be a considerable shortage of sessional kindergarten places, with extra demand arising from the rollout of subsidised threeyear-old kindergarten. An additional early years centre, with a net increase of two kindergarten rooms, will be required. This demand will also be increased by the likely need for the projected shortage of places in the South East Neighbourhood needing to be met here.

The South-West Neighbourhood has a major development site at the Bradmill site. The site is a major contributor to the neighbourhood’s anticipated population growth and provides opportunities for the location of a new early years facility. .

Table 53: Clare Court Children’s Centre Site and Building Assessment

Site size

3,204m2

Year built

1947, 1984, 2010

Building condition

Good

Building fit for purpose

Yes: • Multi-purpose room is underutilised. • Site shape and building configuration are sub-optimal.

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Service is already meeting preferred model; suitability of residential street location would need to be considered.

Kingsville Kindergarten and Roberts Street Maternal and Child Health Centre The Kingsville Kindergarten and Roberts Street Maternal and Child Health Centre combines a single room sessional kindergarten and single room maternal and child health service. Table 54: Kingsville Kindergarten Site and Building Assessment

Site size

104,264m2 (adjacent to open space)

Year built

1980

Building condition

Poor

Building fit for purpose

Yes, however: • Single M&CH room not preferred model. • Single kindergarten room not preferred model.

Opportunity for expansion

Yes: • Potential to increase the service provision on this site

Recommendations That Council: • Undertake a feasibility study, in 2024/25, to consider the appropriate provision of a preferred service model early years facility by 2028. • Monitor the planning process for the development of the Bradmill Site in order to secure an appropriate site for a preferred service model early years facility.

Figure 8: Early years facilities in the West Neighbourhood

West Neighbourhood Ownership Not-for-profit Council Private

The West Neighbourhood is the most disadvantaged area in the municipality, falling within the 4th SEIFA percentile Australia-wide (compared with the City of Maribyrnong position of the 42nd SEIFA percentile).

Between 2020 and 2041, the early years population cohort is expected to increase moderately at 31%. The West Neighbourhood has two early years facilities.

Service Type C Long day childcare K Kindergarten M Maternal and child Health O Occasional childcare / other service CX Future long day childcare (with permit)

Table 55: Council owned early years facilities in the West Neighbourhood

Facility name

Braybrook Community Hub

Cherry Crescent Preschool

Sessional kindergarten

MCH

Yes

LDC

Other Yes

Yes

In addition, there are three private, long day childcare centres - Good Start Early Learning, Harmony Early Learning Centre, and Little Champs Care.

Maternal and child health Table 56: Maternal and child health in Council facilities supply and demand – West Neighbourhood

Supply - MCH rooms

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.3

1.5

+0.9

+0.8

+0.7

+0.8

+0.7

+0.5

Figure 8 shows the early years facilities in the West Neighbourhood. Demand - MCH rooms per 120 projected births Relationship to Benchmark Provision

Three and Four-Year-Old Sessional Kindergarten

Council facilities Braybrook Community Hub The Braybrook Community Hub combines three sessional kindergarten rooms and a two room maternal and child health service.

Table 57: Sessional kindergarten in Council facilities supply and demand – West Neighbourhood

Table 59: Braybrook Community Hub Site and Building Assessment

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

206

Site size

96,338m2

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 3yo*

103

109

119

Year built

2015

Demand - 0.63 places per projected 4yo*

105

114

Building condition

Excellent

+120

+63

+38

-8

-27

Building fit for purpose

Yes

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Service is already part of a large hub site. The appropriateness of an expansion would need to be investigated.

Supply - total places

Relationship to Benchmark Provision

Long day childcare Cherry Crescent Preschool The Cherry Crescent Preschool is a one room sessional kindergarten.

Table 57: Long day childcare supply and demand – West Neighbourhood

2020

2023

2026

2031

2036

2041

Supply - non-Council places

286

Site size

1,384m2

Supply - Total places

286

Year built

1981

Demand - 1 place per 3.07 children aged 0-4

243

260

273

274

292

318

Building condition

Poor

Relationship to Benchmark Provision Council places (33% of demand)

Building fit for purpose

-80

-86

-90

-91

-96

-105

No: • Single room facility (26 places) is not preferred model.

Relationship to Benchmark Provision non-Council places (67% of demand)

+123

+112

+103

+102

+90

+73

Opportunity for expansion

Limited: • Possible to expand the service provision on site but questionable whether the residential street is a suitable location.

Supply - Council places

Note: *Supply excludes facilities that have planning approval but have not yet commenced construction.

Table 60: Cherry Crescent Preschool Site and Building Assessment

Comments Maternal and child health

Long day childcare

The supply of maternal and child health services in the West Neighbourhood is considered appropriate to meet community needs until 2041. No change is envisaged.

With three, private, long day, childcare facilities in the neighbourhood, there does not seem to be a need for a Council owned building to be provided at this time.

Sessional kindergarten

Development sites

There is currently an oversupply of sessional kindergarten places, but this will change once subsidised funding becomes available for threeyear-olds, commencing in 2022 with five-hours per week. By 2029, when the 15-hours per week initiative is fully implemented, supply and demand for sessional kindergarten places will approximately align, with a minor shortage in places developing to 2041.

There are no development sites of significance within the West Neighbourhood.

Recommendations That Council: • Undertake a feasibility study in 2026/27, to investigate the merits of redeveloping or expanding either the Cherry Crescent Preschool or Braybrook Community Hub to increase kindergarten capacity or include long day childcare.

Summary of recommendations Recommendation

Neighbourhood

Timing

Operational Funding Requirement

Compliance and fit for purpose of buildings

Municipal

Annual

Compliance and fit for purpose of outdoor play areas

Municipal

Annual

Bulldogs Children’s Centre

Central

Ongoing

Hyde St Early Years Facility

East

2021/22

Maribyrnong Community Centre partial repurposing as 3yo kindergarten Assessment

North

2021/22

North Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study (1)

North

2021/22

$120K

Comment • • • •

South East

2021/22

$120K

Continue to liaise with Western Bulldogs Football Club in relation to the handing back of the Bulldogs Children’s Centre to Council in 2024 in recognition of Western Bulldogs long term planning for the precinct.

•

Continue negotiations with the Victorian School Building Authority for the replacement of the Hyde Street Kindergarten with a preferred model early years facility on the Hyde St site. Refer approx. $4m to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2021/22 to contribute to the project.

• • • • •

• •

East Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study

East

2022/23

Central

2023/24

South West

2024/25

North

2025/26

West Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study

West

2026/27

$120K

Maribyrnong Defence Site Early Years Facility

North

Monitor for appropriate timing

To be confirmed

South West

Monitor for appropriate timing

To be confirmed

Central Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study South West Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study North Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study (2)

Bradmill Site Early Years Facility

$120K

Undertake annual compliance and fit for purpose assessments of outdoor play areas and prepare 10 year program of play area maintenance and upgrade. The 10 year program should be updated annually. Refer the program to Council’s capital and maintenance budgeting process annually.

•

• South East Neighbourhood Early Years Facility Feasibility Study

Undertake annual compliance and fit for purpose assessments of buildings and prepare 10 year program of building maintenance and upgrade. The 10 year program should be updated annually. Refer the program to Council’s capital and maintenance budgeting process annually.

• • • • • • • • • •

Undertake an internal assessment in 2021/22, of the opportunity to repurpose part of the Maribyrnong Community Centre as a kindergarten for a 3yo program At the completion of the internal assessment, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2022/23. Undertake a feasibility study, in 2021/22, of the options available to provide a preferred service model early years facility by 2024. At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2022/23. Undertake a feasibility study, in 2021/22, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the increase in demand by 2025. A combined approach with the South-West Neighbourhood requirements should be considered if sites are appropriate sites are difficult to identify in the South-East Neighbourhood. At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2022/23. Undertake a feasibility study, in 2022/23, of the options available to provide a preferred service model early years facility by 2026 At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2023/24 Undertake a feasibility study, in 2023/24, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the increase in demand by 2027 At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2024/25 Undertake a feasibility study, in 2024/25, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the increase in demand by 2028 At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2025/26 Undertake a feasibility study, in 2025/26, of the options available to provide a preferred service model early years facility by 2029 At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2026/27 Undertake a feasibility study in 2026/27, to consider the appropriate site for development / expansion / relocation to cater for the increase in demand by 2030 At the completion of the feasibility study, refer the outcome to Council’s capital budgeting process for 2027/28

•

Monitor the planning process for the development of the Defence Site in order to secure an appropriate site for a preferred model early years facility

•

Early Years Infrastructure Plan 2021-2041

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Central Neighbourhood

Long day childcare