Windsor Community Children’s Centre
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:13): (630) My question is for the minister for skills. Windsor Community Children’s Centre has been providing high-quality community-run early education to local families for nearly 50 years, and they have operated out of their Union Street home in Windsor for 27 years. Minister, why did the government give Swinburne permission to sell the land at 131–133 Union Street, Windsor, without first ensuring the future of Windsor Community Children’s Centre?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:14): I thank the member for her question. This is a matter that was raised by Mr Davis in the adjournment fairly recently. The local council have rejected the rezoning permit, and the matter is now before the Minister for Planning. In terms of allowing for or agreeing to land being proposed, there are a number of things that were put in place, one of which is that a significant amount of money needs to be reinvested back into vocational education and training at that institution.
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:15): Thank you, Minister, for your answer. This is a government which calls this the Education State and spruiks reforms that will increase access to early education. That land was gifted by the state government, but now Swinburne wants to rezone the land so it can be used for a commercial purpose and so it can kick Windsor Community Children’s Centre out and then sell the land. Minister, local families want to know and would appreciate an update from the government. Will the government ensure common sense and community need prevail and stop this rezoning?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:15): Again, this is a matter for the Minister for Planning. The fact is that there are stipulations that the government has placed on the sale of properties that are owned by Swinburne Institute of Technology, which were actually gifted by those opposite quite some time ago, and then of course Swinburne has turned around and has decided to sell those lands. It is now a matter for the Minister for Planning.
David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:16): I move:
That the minister’s answer be taken into account on the next day of meeting.
Motion agreed to.