NEWS DESK
Federal cuts force up child care costs MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire says it will continue to provide family day care, despite the imminent slashing of federal funding for the service. As a result, the shire says it has been forced to double its administration levee from mid-July from 75 cents to $1.50 an hour for each child “rather than see this service lost to the community”. The shire regards its family day care as a high quality, regulated home based child care service for children up to 13. Children are looked after in a registered carer’s home – not a day care centre. Operators provide flexible care day and night, seven days a week under a licence agreement with the shire. The shire is regarded as the administrator of the service which provides places for about 200 peninsula families. It compiles timesheets, ensures child care providers run clean and tidy premises and have relevant licences. Home visits ensure compliance. Fees depend on family incomes and are usually paid fortnightly. Rebates are recouped through child care assistance schemes.
The shire receives $140,000 from the federal government to help run of the service – but this will stop on 1 July. Parents will be able to recoup a proportion of the increased fees through either the child care rebate or child care assistance. It is expected that no parent will be asked to pay the full amount of the increase. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said the family day care program was highly respected and had consistently met the requirements of the national quality framework (NQF). It was awarded a rating of “exceeding the national quality standards” at the most recent assessments and ratings visit. “Council is committed to the FDC program and the wonderful service it provides in our community,” she said. “It is always a difficult decision to raise fees, but to continue this important service in light of funding cuts leaves us no option.” Cr Colomb said family day care users should contact the shire for further information about the new fees. Stephen Taylor
Shire gives grants to 27 groups TWENTY-SEVEN community groups will share in $110,000 under Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 2015 Placemaking Grants Program. The grants range from $5000 to $2000. Recipients include Dromana Fore-
shore Committee of Management, which will receive $4500 to pay for one of four fitness stations along the Dromana Foreshore bay trail, from the service station corner down to the Boat Hire Shed near Anthony’s Nose.
Top spot: Tyrone foreshore camping area near Rye. Picture: Yanni
Summer campers set record SUMMER saw a record number of campers on the Mornington Peninsula with people staying during the socalled shoulder periods either side of peak periods increasing by 25 per cent in comparison to the previous year, CEO Carl Cowie has stated in his most recent monthly report. The figures were contained in his April report, which was presented to the council in late May. Mr Cowie said the department running foreshore camping was one of few in the shire that turned a profit. “The 2014-15 season is now closed with a record occupancy of 112,000 nights being achieved,” he said. “This increased occupancy continues to provide an affordable holiday, supporting the local economy and allowing visitors to experience all
that the Mornington Peninsula has to offer.” He also praised the shire’s “highvis” cleaning team, which had worked hard to maintain foreshore facilities. The shire has foreshore camping areas at Rosebud, Rye township and Sorrento. Committees of management control sites at Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight (“west” Rye to Blairgowrie-Sorrento), Capel Sound (Rosebud West) and Dromana as well as on the other side of the peninsula at Shoreham and Stony Point. The shire charges $550 per site between 25 October and 20 December, and $995 between 31 January and 26 April. During peak season, sites with power costs $290 a week and $135 off-peak. Mr Cowie said other highlights in
his report included going to tender for replacement of the Warringine boardwalk along the coast between Hastings and Bittern that was destroyed in the Hastings fire of 3 January. Later in the night, councillors awarded the tender for $335,000 to a Hawthorn company, which will complete the 712-metre boardwalk by August. CCTV systems for Mornington (an upgrade), Mt Eliza and Mt Martha would be installed by October, Mr Cowie said. Mr Cowie said he’d had a good meeting with Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins in which they’d discussed the state government’s plans to cap council rates, and the review underway of the councillor code of conduct. Mike Hast
Southern Peninsula News 16 June 2015
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