Candidate question time: Playmates

Since then, employees and clients of Playmates have been on a roller coaster ride, raising 10,000 signatures to get the matter debated in state Parliament and signing a 12 month lease extension to keep them in their current facility until at least December 2016.

It has been confirmed by the Liberal-National Coalition they would move Playmates to accommodate the $150 million final stages of the hospital redevelopment.

Playmates have said it would cost more than $1 million to relocate and their 100 childcare places are vital in a community that already has a childcare shortage.

Now the four candidates for the seat of Dubbo at the upcoming election have the opportunity to state what they would do for Playmates if they were elected.

Playmates Cottage sits in the redevelopment zone identified for the next stages of the $240 million Dubbo Hospital redevelopment, meaning yes, Playmates does need to find a new home.

The established working party has been considering key elements of the transition to a new site including the drafting of plans and identifying and securing a suitable site. 

After careful consideration the Playmates committee have selected their preferred site after working through a number of other site options. 

I made a commitment to assist Playmates throughout this journey and I will honour that commitment. 

A specific funding commitment cannot be made at this point in time as the cost of securing land and construction of the new centre is still unknown, there are also a number of other issues that still need to be considered and worked through.

My focus in relation to Playmates, since I became involved late last year, has been about keeping public pressure on Troy Grant to secure the funds for a replacement building for Playmates, rather than saving the existing building. 

Mr Grant promised Playmates they would not be “disadvantaged” by the hospital redevelopment and this means funding a replacement building. 

I find it difficult to accept that Playmates could not have been accommodated within the Dubbo Hospital redevelopment, however it seems too late in the day to revisit that issue. 

The focus should now be on a suitable future home for the childcare centre that allows it to continue its important community role particularly in providing childcare services for hospital staff.

I have said from the beginning that Playmates should not be the subject of election promises. 

It is and should be a day to day ‘business of government’ issue. 

If elected I will work with the Playmates community to secure the necessary funding, a combination of federal and state funding if necessary.

If the re-development of the Dubbo Hospital includes the land on which Playmates now sits, then it should be up to the NSW Government to rebuild Playmates at a location convenient to the hospital staff who rely on Playmates for childcare, at no cost to Playmates.

Playmates, a not for profit childcare centre, provides childcare services to the general public, is the closest convenient centre for the children of nurses and staff at Dubbo Hospital, and looks after children referred by NSW government agencies, such as DOCs. It has an important role in our community.

The proposed $270 million redevelopment of Dubbo Hospital has regional significance, and it should go ahead. 

The current uncertainty about Playmates cottage should not stop the proposed redevelopment project.

Having said that, a way forward for Playmates childcare should be produced. 

Childcare is needed, and a Playmates childcare service should be part of the future. The NSW government cannot overly harm one aspect of community life in its efforts to help another part.

If elected as your local member, I will work toward ensuring there is a solution for Playmates cottage childcare centre. If negotiations need to be had, then have them. Keep working for a viable solution. It will cost money. 

If in power, how would the Greens pay for the arrived at solution? The same way the major parties would - with your taxpayer funds. Each party when it forms government uses the same funding source. 

Playmates is an important community service, and if elected as your local member I would support it.