Mid-Western Regional Council has voted to include funding of $200,000 for extensions to the Kandos Rylstone Preschool as a community initiative to be discussed in its 2017/18 budget.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The decision followed debate at Wednesday’s meeting, during which Mid-Western Regional Council was accused of procrastinating on decisions affecting Rylstone and Kandos.
The Rylstone Kandos Preschool has asked Mid-Western Regional Council to contribute to the cost of upgrading the council-owned building to increase its capacity to 30 children a day. The preschool is licensed for 30 children but restricts numbers to 27 due to lack of space. There are nine children on the waiting list.
The preschool has offered to contribute $70,000 to extensions, leaving a funding gap of $190,000.
A report to council recommended that council consider the funding in its 2017/18 budget and continue discussions with the preschool on funding and grant opportunities.
However, a proposed amendment from Cr Russell Holden that council enter discussions with the preschool on commercial lease arrangements angered Cr Peter Shelley.
Cr Shelley said Rylstone and Kandos, due to no fault of their own, were in the lower socio-economic area of the region and arrangements applied to Gulgong and Mudgee preschools could not be applied there.
“How about just for once the council start supporting projects and use a bit of empathy for people other than bloody Mudgee,” he said.
Cr Esme Martens proposed that funds for the preschool be taken from the Kepco Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) but amended her motion after it was pointed out that this money might not be available for some time.