The future of Playmates Cottage child care centre will be debated in NSW Parliament after more than 10,500 signatures were presented to Dubbo MP Troy Grant yesterday.
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Save Playmates Cottage sub-committee chairperson Virginia Morley handed the signatures to Mr Grant, who said he would be happy to organise for the issue to be debated at a parliamentary sitting later this year.
Playmates Cottage are fighting for the right to stay on the grounds of Dubbo Base Hospital beyond December 2015, when their current lease runs out.
The government is keeping their options open with planners assessing if the site will be needed for other hospital facilities.
Mr Grant said he was happy to work with Playmates and other parties.
“There's 10,520 [people] I'm informed, who signed the petition and got behind the cause. I've been pleased to hear and talk continually to Playmates. I've been happy to organise and facilitate a meeting with the health planners about the redevelopment,” he said.
“I'm also very happy to acknowledge that Playmates provide a wonderful service on the precinct currently and if we can find room for both, that's the ideal outcome.”
Ms Morley said the committee had been overwhelmed by the support Dubbo had given and praised the volunteers who had been out collecting signatures.
“We have worked very hard over the last six months to get over 10,000 signatures so we can have our debate in state parliament,” Ms Morley said.
“We've had a lot of positive feedback from the community supporting us. The service has been going for 30 years, it's community run and not for profit so when you take into account there are 100 children who attend each week at this time, that is a lot of families who have been impacted by Playmates over the years.”
The issue could be debated in parliament in August, while a final decision on whether they will be allowed to stay is expected in September.
“This is a situation where we are trying to get the best outcome for the whole community. There are no secrets made to anyone,” Mr Grant said.
“Playmates are quite aware of this and since coming in, my major priority has been to ensure we have the very best health facilities here in Dubbo, not just for our city but for the 500,000 people across the western region who rely on it.”
Ms Morley said Save Playmates Cottage are convinced the only logical decision is to allow them to stay on hospital grounds.
“The retention of Playmates Cottage where it is [would be the best outcome]. We believe it's a waste of taxpayer money to move it. It was built by the state government 30 years ago. Even if there was a relocation, where is that money going to come from?” she said.
