Council gifts land to preschool in Bega, NSW

The Bega Valley Shire Council has gifted two parcels of land to the Bega Preschool Association to expand its service.

The Council has gifted the current site of the preschool to the early childhood and care service, which means that the Association may expand and develop its service without requiring the Council’s consent.  

Council Property and Facilities Co-ordinator Rickee Marshall said the resolution was a positive result for both the Council and the preschool.

“Issues surrounding the ownership of the land have been identified from as far back as the mid 1970s, with Council needing to give landowner’s consent on every occasion the preschool has looked to expand and develop over the years,” Ms Marshall said.

“The buildings on the land are owned by Bega Preschool Association Incorporated and Council does not provide any capital renewal or maintenance support for these assets, therefore it makes perfect sense that they assume ownership of the land as well.

“As the preschool celebrates 50 years of operation this year, it is great to be able to recognise the wonderful contribution it has made to the community and provide some further certainty moving forward.”

Preschool Centre Manager Anne-Maree Carroll thanked Council for gifting the land and outlined the plans for the extension.

“Our plans for the extension include a multi-purpose room, which will offer a myriad of opportunities for teachers and educators to further teach and support the children, particularly those with additional needs,” Ms Carroll said.

“We will also include a staff room for our hardworking and dedicated staff, who give their heart and soul to their work.

“Assuming ownership of the land means that we will be able to extend and strengthen our existing dedicated teaching of children with additional needs and support of their families, both through the planned extension and being able to explore grant funding opportunities.

“In November this year, when the renovations are complete, we plan to host an open day to celebrate the preschool’s 50 years of offering Bega and the surrounding communities a high-quality early childhood education,” Ms Carroll said.

Bega Preschool Association Incorporated is a not-for-profit community-based preschool licenced by the Department of Education to provide early childhood education to 40 children per day between the ages of three and six years.