The Central West Family Day Care Scheme (FDC) could soon be located on the grounds of the former Parkes Hospital.
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Parkes Shire Council is currently considering if the relocation of the organisation from its current address in Dalton Street to the former Community Health Centre in Coleman Road is financially viable.
Council has lodged an expression of interest grant submission to assist towards the financial costs.
At the same time, council staff are also developing a business case into the viability and cost of the project
Mr Les Finn (Council’s Director Technology and Corporate Services) said if approved, the relocation was anticipated to occur during the next financial year pending grant money and a feasible business case.
General Manager Kent Boyd indicated that all decisions on the future relocation will be subject to council approval.
Mr Finn was commenting on the yearly update of the FDC which he said continues to provide a valuable service to families covering an area from ‘Bedgerebong to Mudgee’.
Council has been providing financial support to the FDC for more than 30 years and also to the community-based Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC).
“The work of the FDC unit under the coordination of Ann-Marie Winter shows that during the last six months, the service has experienced modest growth with target outcomes met,” he said.
“Presently the scheme has 35 educators providing registered care.
“The Scheme averaged 75-100 equivalent full time placements per week over the first period of the year with 287 families enrolled including 201 within the Parkes shire.”
Families within the region utilising the services include those at Bedgerebong (1), Caragabal (1), Condobolin (25), Cookamidgera (2), Eugowra (2), Forbes (50), Goonumbla (1), Grenfell (2), Gunningbland (1), Mandagery (1), Mudgee (1), Parkes (195), Peak Hill (1), Tichborne (1), Trewilga (1), Tullamore (1) and Wirrinya (2).