By Vanessa Chircop
A DECISION by Hobsons Bay council to increase child care fees to $78 per day has not deterred parents from enrolling their children into the council run service – with 130 children on the council’s waitlist for 0-2 aged rooms.
The $8 per child per day increase came into play at the start of the new financial year last week and despite the waiting list Hobsons Bay’s Director Community Services Peter Hunt said the figure should not be misinterpreted.
“Hobsons Bay City Council operates two long day care centres – Altona North Children’s Centre and Altona Meadows Children’s Centre,” Mr Hunt said.
“Childcare waiting list figures should not be interpreted as 130 families needing places at the council’s Altona North and Altona Meadows centres.
“Families can join waiting lists before a place is required.”
On Tuesday 22 March the council moved to increase staff numbers at its two centres to ensure staff ratios under the state government regulatory changes were met.
At present the Altona North Children’s Centre is a 51-place centre and the Altona Meadows Children’s Centre offers 55 places.
