By ALESHA CAPONE
FAMILIES angered by the proposed closure of Victoria University’s Newport Children’s Centre – which cares for almost 80 children – have been offered a glimmer of hope.
Last Thursday, the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell, told Star the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) would “be happy” to negotiate with VU to keep the centre open for an extra 12 months.
Last week, Star reported Victoria University had informed parents the child centre was likely to shut in December after the tertiary institution vacated its Newport campus.
Parents campaigning against the possible closure requested the centre remain open until 2013 to help them find alternate arrangements within Hobsons Bay.
At a meeting with parents on 24 October, VU Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Baxter said the university had attempted to negotiate with campus owner DTF to keep the child care centre open after this year ended.
But Ms Lovell blasted VU over its actions to ensure the childcare centre’s future.
“What I would say is Victoria University has been very tardy and disingenuous in dealing with this issue,” she said.
Ms Lovell said VU’s Vice-Chancellor ,Professor Peter Dawkins, wrote to the DTF on 31 October in a letter saying they had decided to cease operations at the Newport campus years ago.
“The challenge from the university’s perspective, however, is that it is not possible to run the childcare centre on this remote site as a profitable initiative, and it would need to consider the level of cross-subsidisation before finally agreeing to enter into this arrangement,” the letter said.
The letter requested the State Government to allow VU to occupy the site for “no or minimal” costs in order to afford to keep the childcare centre running until the end of 2013.
“It’s a little bit mischievous to send a letter on 31 October and then claim it’s all the government’s fault on 1 November,” Ms Lovell said.
“The ball’s now clearly in Victoria University’s court, and it’s up to them to decide whether to continue operating the centre or not.”
