BCEYLC gather to protest Council decision to transition to new provider

Approximately 130 community members gathered at a barbeque event organised by the Beechworth Community Early Years Learning Centre (BCEYLC), protesting the Indigo Shire Council’s decision to transition to a new provider. 

BCEYLC will transition to being under the auspices of Alpine Children’s Services (ACS) from  January 2025 after the provider was awarded the lease as the sole provider to take over the Mayday Hills site which is currently occupied by BCEYLC and Beechworth Kindergarten.

The community not-for-profit organisations have been located at the site for 25 years after a joint community venture to build facilities.

Specifically, the group has concerns about governance, transparency and community engagement in the council’s decision making process.

Authored by Beechworth parent Emma MacPhee and backed by nearly 250 signatures from parents, community members, and local businesses, the 22 page document claims, amongst other issues, that the council’s expression of interest (EOI) process did not include an adequate risk assessment – including risk to BCEYLC’s immediate expansion plans, that it excluded community input in the development of EOI criteria and that it involved no community representation on the assessment panel.

A formal complaint was submitted to Indigo Shire Council regarding its handling of the Expression of Interest (EOI) process and decision to award the lease for the Mayday Hills early years facility to ACS.

The complaint, authored by Beechworth parent Emma MacPhee, garnered nearly 250 signatures from parents, community members, and local businesses.

Outlined in the 22-page document were concerns around governance, transparency and community engagement in the council’s decision making process.

“This was not just a property lease decision — it was a change to a long-standing, community-governed early years’ service that affects more than 150 families,” Ms MacPhee said when speaking with local news source Farmer News.

“There was no meaningful community engagement, no transparency in how applicants were assessed, and no clear explanation of how this decision serves the best interests of local children, families, or the broader community.”

The letter further claims the council’s expression of interest process didn’t include an adequate risk assessment – including risk to BCEYLC’s immediate expansion plans, excluded community input in the development of EOI criteria and involved no community representation on the assessment panel.

The complaint also claims councillors failed to keep an open mind in their decision, with correspondence shown by a councillor referring to the outcome as “already decided” days before the vote.

More than 90 questions were submitted to council prior to the meeting, with 12 of them answered and the rest split into themes and put on notice.

Moving forward Ms MacPhee said the BCEYLC community wanted the Council’s lease decision rescinded, and wanted to ensure there would be community representation in the assessments of applicants aligned with council’s policy framework.

“We are not just raising concerns — we are offering a collaborative path forward,” she said.

“This is a chance for the council to correct course, rebuild trust, and genuinely work with the community it represents.”

Incumbent Indi MP Helen Haines attended the event noting that while she was “not taking sides” on the local government issues, she would take the time to listen to concerned parents. 

Speaking with Farmer News Indigo Shire Council chief executive officer Trevor Ierino confirmed he had received the complaint and that the council would take time to work through it in accordance with its Complaints Handing Policy.

Access the original coverage of this story here.