Flood and lease pressures mount

A treasured early learning service in regional New South Wales is facing an uncertain future, as Jamberoo Community Preschool battles regular flooding and a ticking clock, with its current lease due to expire in June 2028. Without a concrete relocation plan or government funding commitment, this vital not-for-profit service is at risk of closure.

For 35 years, the preschool has been a cornerstone of the Jamberoo community, starting as a mobile service in 1989 before leasing its current Allowrie Street premises from Kiama Council 18 years ago. Today, it supports 76 children aged three to five across the week but with a waitlist of 150, demand is far outpacing supply.

The preschool’s challenges are not limited to enrolment pressures. Director Belinda Hibbert explained that the site is flood prone, with four major floods occurring during her six year tenure. The most severe incident, in 2020, forced the service to temporarily relocate to the Jamberoo School of Arts while extensive repairs took place.

Insurance costs have become unsustainable. Following repeated flood events, the preschool’s excess has increased far beyond the reach of a community based service. As a result, they’ve ceased making claims, instead relying on community fundraising and volunteer efforts to recover from damages.

While the team has become increasingly adept at preparing for floods, raising furnishings and wheeling away equipment, the physical and emotional toll remains. Water levels regularly reach ankle height indoors and waist height outside, exacerbated by drainage systems that fail during heavy rainfall.

With the lease ending in 2028, the preschool is working with a developer who may donate land, but building a new centre requires funding that has yet to be secured. Despite Belinda’s engagement with all levels of government, no concrete financial support has been offered.

The preschool’s importance is underscored by long-term community investment. Former student Sarah Lafrance, now a parent of four and a management committee member, stressed that the preschool is “an important part of the Jamberoo community and has been for a long time.” Her boys experienced flooding every year during their time at the service.

The issue extends beyond education. Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters has issued a rallying cry for state and federal intervention, warning that “Kiama is a childcare desert.” With long waitlists and limited options, the closure of the preschool would deepen inequities and further strain families.

Cr Matters also highlighted that this is not just a learning issue, it is a matter of safety, workforce participation, and fairness. “It’s not acceptable,” she said, pointing to years of ignored advocacy and inadequate responses. She also noted that essential infrastructure such as Jamberoo Mountain Road faces similar neglect, with repairs forced to outdated standards due to funding constraints.

Jamberoo Community Preschool’s fight is a stark reminder of the challenges many rural and regional early learning services face, underfunded, undervalued, and often left to fend for themselves. 

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