Closure leaves parents stunned

C & K childcare at Sunshine Beach is closing its doors due to lack of numbers.

John Mccutcheon

AFTER school care and vacation care will cease on December 9 at Sunshine Beach C&K childcare leaving some parents bewildered and upset at the circumstances. They have now approached Sunshine Beach State School for help.

C&K's demise follows the closure of a similar centre at Maroochydore on the same day.

One parent, who preferred not to be named, said since council had transferred the centre to C& K, the grounds had been let go and a lack of advertising had resulted in low student numbers.

But C&K chief executive officer Barry Elvish said dwindling numbers had resulted in financial losses, just as they had at the Maroochydore centre.

He said C&K was not leaving the Sunshine Coast, and the residents could expect up to four kindergartens along the Coast to open next year.

He said utilisation of the three child care programs at Sunshine Beach: before and after school and vacation care numbers had dropped from 62% to 42%.

"The centre has run at a $30,000 loss this year and $20,000 was paid to Council for rent," he said.

C & K took over the Council facility in June 2010.

Mr Elvish said the centre may have been able to continue to operate at 62% capacity, but not at 42.

"In effect, parents have voted with their feet," he said.

The closure means that a recently awarded $35,000 gaming benefit grant would have to be returned.

The centre's morning care program closed earlier in the year and the hours of operation were now 2.30pm to 6pm only and school holiday vacation care.

"I feel so sad that it's closing, and Council is partly to blame for handing it over to C & K," one parent said.

However Mr Elvish said that local marketing had been undertaken and although C & K was a not-for-profit organisation, it could not sustain the losses.

He said the company would maintain its good record of staff redeployment, and the new kindies would create further work opportunities.

Meanwhile parents whose children have been displaced, have written to Sunshine Beach primary school asking if they could undertake childcare.

Sunshine Beach principal Jeff Geise said the issue had been discussed at Thursday's P & C meeting.

"Considering that it was Council-run until a year ago, we have put in a call to Council to see if they have planned any other strategies and if not we will certainly be exploring the possibility," he said.

Community facilities manager Charlie Eames said Council had granted C & K a licence to occupy the section of premises at the same time four other centres were transferred to C & K.

He said it was not Council's intention to re-commence a service.

Parents' only other choice for childcare is Jelly Babies/Sunshine Beach Preschool, Kindy & Childcare Centre, (100 - 102 Ben Lexcen Dr) and offers before and after school care and vacation care. Phone 5448 0422.

Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305.