Council increases child care fees

Gosford Council has decided to increase fees by 19 per cent at its Umina Childcare Centre in an attempt to recover costs.

Council's community services director Mr Terry Thirlwell said that before the fee rise Council had been subsiding fees.

"In the past council has operated under community obligation.

"Now we have to look at sustainable local government and we have to look at the provision of services and the maintenance of the level of services," said Mr Thirlwell.

"We have to look at how we can maximise our income and we have to look at the financial sustainability of local government."

Families who sent their children to Umina Childcare Centre received letters from mayor Cr Laurie Maher about the planned fee rise, asking for comment.

"There have been a number of comments received already.

"People don't like the fees going up so that's what people generally write in and say," said Mr Thirlwell.

He said that, with rising costs in the industry, the fee rise was inevitable.

"The cost of provision of services is ever-increasing and council has a limited access to funds through rates and other grants.

"To be able to continue providing the services across council, we have to look at how we can financially sustain those services and where there are opportunities we take them," said Mr Thirlwell.

The council plans to increase fees at all of its nine childcare centres.

Kaitlin Watts, 27 Apr 2011 Interviewee: Terry Thirlwell