Bunyip Preschool rehoused following storm and flooding damage 

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and Hilltops Council Mayor Brian Ingram have announced that Bunyip Preschool has been given permission to operate from Harden Racecourse following flooding and storm damage. 

The politicians visited Sydney recently to appeal for permission from the NSW Regulatory Authority to allow service operations to be moved to the alternative facility so that  staff, children and parents could continue to recover from the devastating storms.

“Bunyip Preschool has officially been given the green light from the Department of Education’s Regulatory Authority to reopen at the Racecourse in Harden,” Ms Cooke shared with local news source Young Witness. 

The parents, committee and staff of Bunyip Preschool have been working tirelessly to move into their new home and are almost ready to welcome children back, offering them the stability and structure they have missed since the storm hit.

According to Ms Cooke an initial leasing agreement was signed with Hilltops Council as the Land Manager, providing the preschool with certainty so the focus can be turned on repairing the existing buildings.

She thanked the Council, preschool staff, and preschool committee for their concerted efforts to make the transition happen. 

“To Hilltops Council, thank you for working efficiently to meet the Regulator’s requirements and help make this possible,” she said.

“To the team at the NSW Reconstruction Authority, your dedication to helping our community get back on their feet as quickly as possible is inspiring.”

“Most importantly, to the Bunyip families, I know the past 11 days have been frustrating, but now we have certainty and a clear way forward.This is what small communities do best, coming together to get things done.”

Ms Cooke pledged to continue working with the Mayor to support the Bunyip Preschool and the community on a long term vision and plan for a new preschool.

“It won’t be easy, but with focus and determination, we can make it happen together,” she said.

Access the original coverage of this story here.