CONCERN’S over the availability of child care support in the Eastern Goldfields has led to the development of a new child care facility in Kambalda.
The Shire of Coolgardie saw the need for more child care facilities in the planning process for the new $13.62 million Kambalda Community and Recreation Centre (KCRC).
“Potential sponsors in the mining sector indicated the need for long-term child care facilities to help former staff come back to work,” Shire of Coolgardie community services manager Brad Isbister told Australian Mining.
“Looking after children was one of the main reasons that female staff were not coming back to work in the mines,” he said.
“The new child care centre will allow new parents to return to work much sooner and provide greater flexibility for the timing of shifts.”
The 50 place licensed day care centre will add to the existing short-term day care available at Kambalda.
Coolgardie Shire Council has signed tender documents for the KCRC and has appointed a builder for the project, with construction to start within the next eight weeks.
Funding for the centre has come from local, state and federal government, mining companies, Lotterywest, mining contractors and suppliers.
Brad Isbister
Coolgardie Shire Council
08 9080 2111
www.coolgardie.wa.gov.au