Lack of childcare choice a concern, says mayor

CASEY mayor Kevin Bradford has raised concerns that many of the city’s childcare centres are owned by the one operator, possibly stifling parent choice.
At last week’s council meeting he said of the 54 childcare facilities in the city, 25 were owned or recently taken over by ABC Childcare.
Cr Bradford said he was concerned there was no sign of that trend coming to an end and that parents were facing only one or two childcare options.
Councillors voted at the Tuesday meeting to have officers report to the council by the end of the year on childcare provision in the City of Casey.
The report will include a consideration of current childcare service delivery options across the municipality, government policy and implications for residents of the municipality and a possible role that the City of Casey might play to support the future provision of childcare in the municipality.