Council sells parkland for childcare centre to help ease Churchill waiting lists

Latrobe City councillors have unanimously agreed to sell a parcel of land in Watson Park, Churchill to the Victorian government for a new childcare centre.

What happened: Councillor Leanne Potter told a council meeting last week there were 16 submissions received from residents on the sale of land. The Churchill and District Community Association endorsed the decision despite some locals voicing traffic and parking concerns.

“Churchill is a growing community and with that growth comes a lot of responsibility, and that’s to make sure families have access to services and facilities,” Potter said.

• “At the moment Churchill has waiting lists for childcare - and that’s not just a mild inconvenience for working families, access to childcare is fundamental.”

Getting local: Churchill has a population of nearly 5,000, according to the 2021 census, but only a couple of early learning centres with limited availability.

• Councillor Potter told a council meeting in April that some Churchill residents are having to drive a 40-minute round-trip to Traralgon to drop their children off at childcare.

She said the childcare facility will also help alleviate childcare waitlists in the surrounding districts like Boolarra and Yinnar, which are also lacking early learning services.

• The majority of Watson Park and its walking tracks will remain.

While addressing traffic concerns, Councillor Steph Morgan said the building itself falls to the state Department of Education, not council, and surrounding residents will get a chance to object during the planning permit process.