Over 60 Families Left in the Lurch by Wellington City Council

1 December 2014

Wellington City Council have given parents less than one month's notice of the proposed closure of the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre Creche.

This leaves many families in the lurch with no viable childcare alternative. One family searched for months for the right environment for their daughter who has cystic fibrosis and the WRAC creche was the only centre that met their needs. Stagnant water and rotting vegetation are particular hazards and were found in all the other local centres her parents looked at.

The Creche has been running for almost 25 years and fills a much-needed gap in childcare services. The sessions are just two hours long, with the idea that full-time parents of children under five can use the pool and fitness facilities on site.

This promotes a balanced and healthy lifestyle, one of the stated aims of the Council in the provision of its Social and Recreational facilities. The threatened closure automatically excludes a number of families from being helped to stay healthy and active.

Melinda Gamlen, whose son attends the creche once a week says: "The Council lost a meagre $65,000 this year in subsidising the Creche. It spends millions a year on recreational facilities. This is short-term thinking and I am deeply saddened that Council is prioritising such a pathetic amount of material gain over the non-material values that the Creche facilities promote: balanced and active lifestyles for families of young children, who often desperately need the support."

Parents are lobbying Council to demand it keeps its doors open.

ENDS

Online petition:
https://www.change.org/p/wellington-city-council-don-t-close-the-wellington-regional-aquatic-centre-creche

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