The time-frame might be tight but a quick DA and sale process is all that’s needed to save Milton’s Gumnut Pre-Kinder from closure at the hands of the Anglican Schools Corporation.
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That was according to a group of parents who turned out on Friday, October 13, keen to lend their voice to a growing campaign.
In August the Anglican Schools Corporation sent a letter to parents and carers and announced plans to shut the popular preschool in December.
The letter outlined the corporation’s decision to “dispose of the site” on which GumNut Pre-Kinder sits. A decision made in 2017, shortly after the Shoalhaven Anglican School closed its doors, in 2016.
Of the parents gathered on Friday not one has been able to secure alternative childcare for 2018.
“We are all on waiting lists,” one mother said.
Calvin Rogers has been negotiating with the corporation on behalf of parents.
“I do not want to get ahead of ourselves but it appears we have a good chance of this coming together,” he said.
“To achieve this we need to have a quick DA process and then have buyers ready to acquire the property promptly.”
The speed with which any lodged DA and sale is processed could be the difference between the preschool opening its doors for the start of 2018 and not.
“Time is really tight and we hope that the ASC can work with any interested parties,” he said.
“What would be best is if the ASC would keep (Gumnuts) open for a further three months to give the sale time to go through for June 30.”
Anglican Schools Corporation CEO Ross Smith said: “We received the plans required for the DA back from the architect last Thursday, October 5 and reviewed them on Friday. We have now instructed our consultant to proceed to lodge the DA with Shoalhaven Council. This will occur in the next week or so and it will then be a matter for the Council to consider.”
Mr Rogers described negotiations, which have so far centred around the DA and sale process, as “positive”.
“They’ve had several potential buyers contact them already so that’s good. I think they’re going to have a lot of interest,” he said.
“They have all but finished the consultants work (fire, access, surveying, etc) and lodging of the DA is imminent, likely within one to two weeks,” he said.
“They have had positive feedback from Council that the approval should be quick and smooth.
“The next step is having potential buyers getting organised. It can take time to arrange finance, set up companies etc. So we need these parties to get ready,” Mr Rogers said.
Mr Rogers says the preschool would be able to re-open for the start of 2018 if the Anglican Schools Corporation is prepared to work with the buyer.
“They could do a short-term lease transaction to Christmas and then the property in March. It would mean that we wouldn’t have to shut – but the ASC would have to be willing to do their bit,” he said.
With the tight time-frame in mind, Mr Rogers has called for informal expressions of interest.
“Anyone who is interested in buying the property can call my mobile so I can talk to the ASC on their behalf and get the ball rolling,” he said.
For sales enquiries contact Mr Rogers on 0410 521 659.
