The fight is not over

The Indigo Shire Council last night voted to award the lease of our current facility at Mayday Hills to Alpine Children's Services from 1 January 2026,  effectively displacing BCEYLC from the facility and putting our continued operations under threat. 

We have still not been provided with sufficient explanation as to why Council would choose to displace a beloved community-governed centre that has provided care and early years education to the children of Beechworth for 37 years. 

We know there is a waitlist for childcare in Beechworth - we put forward our EOI with a clear plan to increase the current number of places we are able to offer from 57 to 120. 

We have also been alarmed that community voices have been ignored throughout this process. 

Over 100 parents, staff and supporters attended the meeting last night, with many more joining  online. Over 98 people submitted questions raising serious concerns about the impact this EOI decision will have on our children, and the broader community. The EOI process lacked a comprehensive risk assessment outlining the impacts of displacing the existing provider of the only long daycare and kindergarten service in Beechworth. The governance of the preferred provider was not taken into account in the assessment process, and Indigo Shire Council has selected an entity that is governed by residents and Alpine Shire Council affiliated representatives, and overlooked a successful locally-governed entity.

The Councillors and Council staff failed to provide specific details of how they propose to manage the transition process at last night’s meeting. This has raised deep concerns that there has been insufficient planning and that this process will cause unnecessary disruption and community angst.  

What we do know

• The new provider's fees will be $15 per child more per day, which would be an additional $150 per week for a family with two children in care. 

• ACS would pay any ongoing staff a lower per hourly rate (BCEYLC currently pay staff above award wages, through an independent EBA)

• ACS have outlined a plan to offer 87 kinder/childcare places from 1 January 2026; BCEYLC proposed a viable plan to offer 120 places in its EOI submission. With a waitlist of over 100 children (that BCEYLC actively manages), Council has knowingly chosen a provider that will deliver less capacity when our community urgently needs more.

• ACS runs centres exclusively in Alpine Shire - in Myrtleford, Bright and Mt Beauty and its board of directors is made up of Alpine Shire residents, an Alpine Council staff member and Alpine Council board member

At this time, our priority is ensuring staff welfare and we will be holding a meeting with staff at the centre this evening to understand how we can best support them during this stressful time. The BCEYLC board are also meeting this evening to discuss the situation and explore next steps.

We appreciate there is a lot of energy and support in our community for BCEYLC, and we thank you for this. We will work to develop ways this can be channelled in order to ensure our amazing 37 year old organisation can continue to serve our community for many years to come.  We will stay in touch! 

More information to help keep you informed:

The history - Important information to consider (as of Aug 2024)

BCEYLC at Risk - Occupancy EOI update (as of 20 March 2025)

Thank you for your ongoing support.