Early Years Services Lease Renewal

We invited the community to have their say on the lease renewal for Early Years service providers. At Council meeting on 18 December 2023 this item was deliberated and a decision about leases for Early Years service providers was made.

Prior to the meeting, a report was presented to Council. This report is available for viewing on p.55 of the Council meeting agenda: Council Meeting Agenda - 18 December 2023.

If you have further questions regarding this item, please contact Lease and Licensing Team via e-mail: LeaseandLicensing@darebin.vic.gov.au.

There are 18 council-owned and community-managed kindergartens and childcare centres which have a lease due to expire on 31 December 2023. Council is proposing a 2+3-year lease, providing certainty to these centres for the next 5 years.

The specific terms of the proposed initial lease term are on a peppercorn rent basis, and with terms and conditions relating to outgoings, utilities, and maintenance to remain the same as the current lease agreements which expire on 31 December 2023.

The reason for the 2+3-year lease for early years’ services is to allow Council time to complete the development and consultation of a holistic Leasing and Licensing Policy for all its community facilities.

Council has a strong commitment to early years services as evidenced by:

• The Early Years Infrastructure Planning Framework 2021-41 to continue to support a financially sustainable community early years sector.
• The multi-million-dollar commitment made on Monday 23 October 2023 to deliver significant expansion in kinder places over the next 4 years, in partnership with the State Government.

Have Your Say:

We encourage the community to have their say by lodging a print or online submission.

UPDATE: At its meeting on 27 November 2023, Darebin Council extended the deadlines for community members to be able to lodge and present submissions to the Early Years Services Lease Renewal engagement.

Submissions can now be lodged in print or online form by 7 December 2023. The previous deadline was 28 November 2023. Those who lodge a submission can also register to present in person at the Hearing of Submissions Meeting on 11 December 2023, by 12 noon that day.

Objections and support to the proposal must be made via Council's formal submission process and can be lodged online via this form or in writing to:

Peter Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Darebin City Council
PO Box 91
Preston Vic 3072

Submissions must be received by no later than 5.00pm on Thursday 7 December 2023.

Read the Public Notice if you would like to find out more.

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