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Photo: Andy Morley-Hall

MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 12 2008

MT VICTORIA’S COMMUNITY CRECHE HOMELESS

The sale of the Crossways House has left Mt Victoria families desperately worried about the future of their community crèche.

Families in Mt Victoria are calling on the Wellington City Council to help the long standing community crèche continue in new premises.

Crossways House has been home to the crèche for the past 25 years. However the building has been sold, and a Community Trust, supported by the crèche, has failed in its bid to purchase it.

The crèche has now been given until October 9 to vacate.

The crèche is a not-for-profit, parent-run, sessional community crèche. It is not a commercial childcare centre. It has 32 families and a healthy waiting list built on reputation alone.
With the help of the Wellington City Council, over 20 possible alternative premises in Mt Victoria have been investigated. Only one suitable site has been found. With some minor modifications, the disused former Mt Victoria Women’s Bowling Club (Bandoliers) at the top of Majoribanks St, would be the perfect new home for the Crèche.

“The Wellington City Council has undertaken to look after the crèche and are working hard for us. We hope they will support us in using the Bandoliers building so that the Crèche can continue serving the needs of families in the community”, says Creche Co-ordinator, Cilla Bennett.

A gardening group is also interested in using the Bandoliers site but has indicated that co-sharing with the crèche is not an option. The future of the building is now in the hands of City Councillors, and is likely to go to the vote.

The Community Creche Committee has now launched a petition in support of the Bandoliers building becoming the new Mt Victoria Community Crèche.

ENDS

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