Land to support proposed early childhood education precinct

The NSW Government is handing over management and use of a 10,550 square metre site in Short Street to assist plans to establish a new pre-school and early childhood precinct in Cowra.

Crown Lands cleaned up the former Essential Energy depot by removing 10 old building structures before handing the site keys to its new manager, Cowra Early Childhood Services Co-Operative Ltd.

The clean-up saw the removal of 800 tonnes of concrete, 60 tonnes of building material, 43 tonnes of steel and 8 tonnes of mixed waste.   Concrete was recycled at a crushing plant and Cowra Council waste facility, timber shipped to a furniture maker in Coonamble, and scrap steel sent to Enviro Metal recycling in Canberra for reuse.

Cowra Early Childhood Services Co-operative (CECS), which was appointed Crown land manager of the site in March, is planning to use the land to expand and consolidate its services to continue providing a growing level of support and care for families in the Cowra region.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the land will support Cowra Early Childhood Services Co-Operative’s proposal to build a new 60 place pre-school to support up to 150 children a week and, over time, consolidate its many services into a centralised childhood education and care precinct for Cowra.

“Crown land reserves play an important role supporting communities with everything from space for childcare and education services, parks and walking tracks to showgrounds, sporting ovals and community halls,” Mr Kamper said.

Not-for-profit CECS, which has been operating since the 1950s, currently provides early and middle childhood education and care services to more than 500 families. It employs 64 educators and staff and operates a long day care service, out of school hours care services, family day care through 17 residential services, and mobile long day care and preschool services at a range of sites.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the NSW Government is committed to ensuring every child in NSW is set up for a life of learning, wellbeing and success – which means getting them started on the path of education well before they commence school.

“Every child should have access to quality early learning – no matter where they live, what their circumstances are or what their family can afford. I welcome this investment in early childhood education in regional NSW,” Ms Car said

Cowra Early Childhood Services Co-Operative General Manager Libby Ewing-Jarvie said she was ‘delighted’ to be appointed to manage and use the Short Street land as the group’s services were close to capacity and it was facing expanding waiting lists.

“The site and its surrounds are in a natural environment close to Billy Goat Hill Nature Reserve so also has potential for bush kinder and bush tucker programs to create a new level of active learning allowing children to get directly involved in their surroundings.”