Patti Field has spent more than 20 years cooking in the same kitchen, but on Thursday, May 18, she got some news that will change her day to day life.
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At the council meeting on Wednesday, May 17, it was approved that Eden Childcare Centre’s kitchen will be completely remodeled at the cost of up to $50,000.
Ms Field says the news was music to her ears because the current kitchen – which is older than many of the centre’s staff – has not been updated since the building’s construction in 1988.
“Our kitchen will be brought into the 21st century,” Ms Field said.
The money for the remodel will come from the Special Rate Variation which allows council to fund the renewal and upgrade of its public domain building assets. Council identified that the kitchens at Eden and Bandara childcare centres needed upgrading to be compliant with the current standards for a commercial kitchen of this nature.
However, at the meeting councillors Mitchell Nadin and Tony Allen raised their concerns that now was not the right time for expensive kitchen remodels.
“I don’t have an issue with the childcare centres at all but I do have an issue with ratepayers subsidising these ventures. They should be self sustained in their own right and not relying on ratepayers’ resources,” Cr Allen said.
“Is it proven to be investing this kind of money into a building that, who knows, the nine of us might decide we no longer want to keep on our books?” Cr Nadin said.
“If we sell it is it going to be bulldozed? Is it going to be leased out? Is the asset going to be worth this much more?”
However, Mayor Kristy McBain spoke up on behalf of the two centres, persuading her fellow councillors.
“We as a council are running a service and we have to keep up with the regulations. If we don’t renew those kitchens then they can’t be used at all in those facilities,” Cr McBain said.
Eden Childcare’s supervisor Annette Coleman said it would be monumental for the service when the kitchen is renovated at the end of the year. She said they look after vulnerable families who rely on the kitchen to ensure their kids receive at least one nutritious meal a day.
“This new kitchen is confirmation that council regards our children as the adults of tomorrow, here we lay the foundations for tomorrow’s leaders and it all starts with healthy nutritious food, prepared in a quality environment,” Ms Field said.