MUMS and dads have won their fight to keep a childcare centre at Bellbridge open.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The federal government this week committed to ongoing funding for the Bellbridge Early Years Learning Centre.
It had been receiving emergency cash for the last six months following its operator Albury-Wodonga Community College quitting after a change in the model of government funding.
Dad Ben Nelson, who was on a subcommittee seeking a deal, was rapt with the result which came as the stopgap funding was to end on July 1.
"People are very excited, they're relieved too because it's been such an ongoing saga," Mr Nelson said.
"We understand there's a process to go through to make their decision but obviously we were getting a little worried because there's only two weeks to, in theory, go until funding ran out and we could have closed down."
Member for Farrer Sussan Ley announced the funding on behalf of the government.
"The Morrison Government listened to the concerns of parents at Bellbridge Early Years Learning Centre and has provided ongoing funding to ensure quality, affordable child care continues to be delivered and our children get the early education they need," Ms Ley said.
The funding's on a restricted non-competitive basis via the government's Community Child Care Fund.
That means the previous benchmark of having a certain number of youngsters receiving care each day will not have to be met.
The centre on two days a week caters to 12 to 13 boys and girls, but has only four children on another day.
Mr Nelson hopes that now there is certainty over the centre that numbers will increase and more locals who have their offspring at Albury-Wodonga childcare rooms use Bellbridge's.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"We hope to grow the childcare so that feeds our local schools at Talgarno and Bethanga," he said.
The pledge by Education Minister Dan Tehan follows his visit to the Berringa Kindergarten, which hosts the childcare, on March 21.
At the time Mr Tehan gave a commitment to ongoing funding if re-elected, saying it would give "certainty to the centre and the community".
Successful federal election candidate for Indi Helen Haines also vowed to push for long-term funding for the centre and despite only being declared an MP on Wednesday she has been pushing the matter since May 18.
She said she had received assurances that the funding would be forthcoming when she had made inquiries following the poll.
Mr Nelson said it had been pleasing there had support across the political divide.
He said the college as a goodwill gesture recently donated $400 to his centre to spend on a toy farm set, scissors and other equipment.