Parents in Maylands are expressing their urgent need for an out-of-school-hours childcare facility as the City of Bayswater considers opening one at Gibbney Reserve.
During a council meeting on September 24, members voted unanimously to support the establishment of the long-awaited childcare center at Gibbney Reserve, which is just a six-minute walk from Maylands Peninsula Primary School (MPPS).
Despite being the second largest primary school in Western Australia, MPPS currently lacks an on-site out-of-school-hours care (OSHC) center. The school reached out to the city in 2021, requesting the establishment of such a facility at the Gibbney Reserve Pavilion.
Currently, the pavilion is leased to Football West, which uses it as a training and education center during weeknights and weekends. The Bayswater council approved a five-year lease for Football West in December 2023, meaning that any new development must consider existing users of the facility.
Following the recent decision, Bayswater’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Edwards, will seek expressions of interest from operators to design and build the new childcare facility either behind the Gibbney Reserve Pavilion or next to the park’s cricket nets.
Megan Parker, from the MPPS Parents and Citizens Committee, emphasized the critical need for after-school care. “As working parents, many of us have felt the stress of trying and failing to find suitable OSHC care for our children,” she stated. “Our experiences reflect those of many working parents in Maylands. Rising living costs make it increasingly difficult to manage around school hours.”
Parker argued that parents at MPPS face tough choices and called on the council to support the establishment of the facility. She stressed that after-school and vacation care is essential for families who depend on these services to balance their work commitments.
Local parent Jessica Toon shared her disbelief that MPPS lacks an OSHC facility. “I have been told there is at least an 18-month wait for spots with existing providers,” she said. “Given that MPPS is the second largest school in the state and many parents work, there is a significant need for this facility.”
Grandmother Kathryn Lance also voiced her concerns, stating that a nearby OSHC facility would reduce safety risks for young children walking home. “Having six grandchildren, I know firsthand that primary school children can become irritable and stressed by the end of the week,” she said. “Extreme weather can make walking unsafe, especially on uneven paths. The risks from speeding vehicles and aggressive drivers are also alarming.”
Councillor Nat Latter, who introduced the motion, acknowledged that residents are seeking a solution. “It’s clear that residents want the council to help, and this is a way to do that without additional costs or affecting other community spaces,” she said.
Latter highlighted the financial strain many families face in the current economic climate. “When one parent cannot return to work or can only work part-time due to the lack of childcare, it has a more significant impact, especially on women. This is a cost-of-living and gender equality issue.”
She concluded that the proposed facility would efficiently utilize underused land while preserving the primary purpose of the reserve.
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