Beechworth early years services reach joint proposal for Mayday Hills site

Beechworth Community Early Years Learning Centre (BCEYLC) and Beechworth Kindergarten (BK) have reached a joint proposal for the future of the Mayday Hills early years facility, following the withdrawal of Alpine Children’s Services from the Indigo Shire Council led Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The two community-run services came together for a full-day mediation on Sunday, 22 June, facilitated independently, to determine the best possible shared use of the site that would allow both to continue operating and meet growing local demand. The proposal — submitted jointly to Indigo Shire Council — recommends that both services remain in their current rooms within the building, the outdoor yard be re-divided based on current licensed places (57 places for BCEYLC, 30 for BK), allowing BCEYLC to proceed with a long-planned demountable classroom extension, internal shared spaces be formally allocated, separate leases entered into with both services, and a “first option” clause be included, enabling either service to take over the full site if the other vacates. Council deferred a lease decision at its June meeting to allow for the outcome of mediation to be considered. BCEYLC has since met with council representatives to call for urgent implementation of the proposal, citing the impact of ongoing uncertainty on staff, families, and service planning. “This is a community-led, collaborative solution that puts children and families first,” said Lauren Malins, president of BCEYLC board. “We’re proud to have worked constructively with Beechworth Kindergarten to find a shared path forward. "With council’s support, we can now focus on expanding access to care and planning confidently for 2026 and beyond," she said. A special council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 15 July at 2pm, where councillors are expected to officially wind up the EOI process, enter negotiations with BK and BCEYLC, and extend current lease arrangements month to month. BCEYLC is calling on council to move quickly so both services can open 2026 enrolments with certainty and continue delivering high-quality, locally governed care for Beechworth families.

Beechworth early years services reach joint proposal for Mayday Hills site

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