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Parklands Community Preschool has finally secured its stake in the Mount Penang Parklands after obtaining a 20-year lease.
In July 2022, Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch along with NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns, called upon the then-NSW Perrottet Government to end its efforts to increase the rent on the preschool or take the lease to market.
Under the Perrottet Government’s original plans, many members of the preschool’s community were concerned about their ability to remain viable and keep its doors open.
The preschool is a not-for-profit community-run service in the Mount Penang Parklands and has served Kariong and the surrounding area for nearly 40 years.
The fee-free service is one of only three community-based preschools left in the southern end of the Central Coast. It has 96 children enrolled and about the same number of families. 17 high-trained educators are employed by the service, many of whom have worked at the service for decades and have taught generations local children.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, joined the preschool’s community to celebrate the announcement.
“This new contract recognises the significant contribution of the Parklands Community Preschool and its long history of educating generations of families right across the Kariong Community.
“This will mean the preschool is embedded as a cornerstone in the future of the Mount Penang Parklands.
“Education is the greatest gift we can give our children and the Minns Labor Government is determined to keep community continues to be able to access early childhood education.
“We also want to thank the many wonderful people who work here, community members and the parents who have worked really hard to get to this outcome.”
Director Phoebe Wilby is grateful for the community support.
“Thank you to Liesl and her team for such unwavering support.
“We are also thankful to the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation for supporting the preschool in reaching this wonderful outcome.
“This is an exciting time for the Parklands Community Preschool and we look forward to being here in the community for years to come.”
