Cowra Early Childhood Services has been denied a $36,000 refund of development application fees after Cowra Council voted down the proposal.
CECS Director Libby Ewing-Jarvie put forward the request for a partial refund of $36,000 out of the $45,000 DA fees already paid.
The refund was sought to help cover the cost of a footpath condition imposed by council, as well as to free-up money for vital facilities and equipment.
“We are seeking a partial recovery of $36,000 from the $45,000 total DA fee, not to avoid our responsibilities, but to help cover the cost of the footpath, should it be quickly required,” Ms Ewing-Jarvie said.
She described the scale of the financial challenge in detail, saying, “CECS has already invested $1.2 million in preconstruction works, more than half a million dollars over what was originally budgeted.”
Latest Stories
“We’ve got no contingency, no funding left to finish the building, no budget for a playground for the children who will attend.”
Costs had ballooned due to delays and regulatory demands.
“Our budget documentation expired, forcing us to restart the DA design process, this led to cost spikes in soil remediation, consulting fees and landscape design,” she said.
The organisation, she added, was still trying to raise an additional $200,000 for furniture and play equipment.
“Council is forecasting $4 million in surplus this financial year, eight per cent of the $50 million overall budget,” Ms Ewing-Jarvie said.
“In contrast, our entire head service runs on just 1.8 per cent of that.”
For Ms Ewing-Jarvie, the issue was not just about costs but about the broader community.
“It’s misleading to suggest the new preschool will not result in genuine increased capacity, it absolutely will,” she said.
“CECS is a not-for-profit organisation, any surplus is reinvested directly back into facilities, programs and staff.
“Staff have served for 10, 15, even 20 plus years, proving that community-based models can retain staff effectively.”
The call for a refund drew a significant response from Cowra residents, with 13 submissions received during the public exhibition period and one late submission.
Twelve were supportive.
Parents and community members described the project as essential for Cowra’s families and future.
“As a working mother of five children, two of preschool age, this service is desperately required in our community,” Dimity Southwell wrote.
Emily Reynolds, employee of CECS, stressed the positive impact she had witnessed, writing, “having seen firsthand the positive impact our service has on local families, I want to express my strong support for this initiative.”
“This financial assistance will make a genuine difference in helping us deliver improved facilities and better opportunities for early learning in our community.”
Some raised concerns about fairness and precedent.
“Many of us operate under similar financial pressures and contribute meaningfully to the Cowra community,” Fran Stead wrote.
“Without a coordinated, community-level response, new buildings risk simply shifting the existing workforce between centres rather than creating the additional capacity urgently needed.”
When the matter came before councillors, it became clear the chamber was split between those determined to support the motion and those wary of opening the door to future demands.
Cr Erin Watt was one of the strongest supporters.
“Only a few months ago, we added family friendly access to childcare as a high priority in our 2036 strategic plan,” Cr Watt said.
“Today, we’re given the opportunity to put our money where our mouth is.
“Every dollar saved by CECS can be directly reinvested into services, resources and opportunities for children and families.
“We don’t often get $3.7 million in grant funding for our community and certainly not with a million dollars worth of land handed over as well.
“This is a rare opportunity we need to take seriously,” she said.
Cr Cheryl Downing also pushed back against concerns of precedent.
“There’s no precedent in this chamber, each decision I make is based on what is in front of me,” Cr Downing said.
“We shouldn’t be asking ‘what if someone else comes?’ These people have done the hard yards, applied for the grant and come to council with a clear request.”
She stressed the economic benefits, saying, “studies have shown rural towns need services like CECS to boost the economy and parents are able to return to work.
“If my daughter-in-law couldn’t go back to work as an accountant, my son wouldn’t be building a gym and employing 10 more people in this town.
“That’s how places in childcare can 100 per cent affect the rural economy.”
Cr Tony Horton acknowledged CECS’s strong record but was unconvinced about the funding model.
“I agree wholeheartedly with the commentary around the effectiveness of CECS and the services they provide, there’s been no question about the quality,” Cr Horton said.
“That’s not up for debate.
“But we have a finite budget and it’s our job to decide how we allocate that.
“This project will go ahead irrespective of whether we grant this $36,000 or not.”
Cr Peter Wright voiced concern about contradictions in the funding process.
“We’re refunding development application fees but then we’re taking the money from the Business Assistance Reserve,” Cr Wright said.
“That contradicts what we’re doing.
“If we say we’re refunding DA fees, then that’s what we should do.
“We shouldn’t take it from another line item just to balance the books.”
Cr Cheryl Speechley admitted she had been the most worried about precedent.
“I’ll own it, I’m the one who was concerned about setting precedent and I still do have concerns around that,” Cr Speechley said.
Mayor Paul Smith also made his position clear, saying “I feel like I’m shooting Bambi”.
“They do an excellent job, that’s not the issue.
“I worry, if people won’t accept that sense of precedent, it certainly sets an expectation in the town and the shire of what you can get if you ask council.
“If we had unlimited finances, we’d give money to everybody.”
As the debate closed, the sense of frustration was evident from some councillors.
“It’s disappointing that councillors who voted for a long-term strategic plan to be an advocate and facilitator of increased childcare positions are voting against this motion,” Cr Watt said.
“If councillors vote against this motion, you’re essentially saying the people of Cowra should put their money where their mouth is, but we shouldn’t."
The final vote left only Cr Watt and Cr Downing in support of the refund.
A separate motion put forward by the mayor for council to donate $4000 lapsed without support.
In the end Cr Watt successfully moved an alternative motion for council to cover the cost of the footpath required for CECS’s development, including tree removal.
That motion, seconded by Cr Downing, will return to the next council meeting with costings and funding details.
CEC's broke ground on Cowra's soon to be Community Preschool on Thursday, 25 September, the preschool will be operable from 2027.
