9 March 2026
Parents behind the long-running Kelly’s Place community childcare centre challenged the accuracy of a North Sydney Council report during a public forum appearance, warning the service could face closure if a relocation solution is not secured before a planned park redevelopment proceeds.
Addressing councillors tonight during discussion of the quarterly review of the 2025–2029 delivery program and 2025–26 operational plan, Kelly’s Place parent committee representative Anna Field drew attention to commentary in the report stating that council had extended the centre’s lease by 12 months and was working with the committee “to explore options for continued operations”.
The report further stated that council had “followed up with the NSW Government to seek funding support for relocation”.
Field told councillors the latter claim did not reflect the contents of correspondence sent to the state government.
“A letter was issued by North Sydney Council to the New South Wales government on November 19, 2025,” Field said.
“It did not, however, seek funding support for Kelly’s Place relocation.”
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Field said a working group between council staff and the Kelly’s Place parent committee had been established in January and several council-owned facilities had been inspected as possible relocation sites.
However she said the committee had recently been advised that state funding for the park redevelopment had been confirmed and that the childcare centre would need to vacate its current premises by the end of the year.
“If this project proceeds before a viable relocation solution is in place it will effectively mean the permanent closure of Kelly’s Place,” she said.
Field said more than 50 local families rely on the community-run not-for-profit centre, which has operated for more than 40 years.
“Using taxpayer funds to demolish essential community infrastructure without providing an alternative would be a deeply perverse outcome,” she said.
“Our community should not be forced to choose between green space and essential childcare.”
Field said parents had launched a petition calling on council to delay any relocation until a suitable alternative premises is identified and secured, with almost 1700 signatures collected in four days.
Responding to a question from councillors, Field said four council-owned sites had been considered as possible relocation options, with two identified as having some potential but requiring further assessment of operational and planning constraints.