The future of a beloved preschool in the Kiama Local Government Area (LGA) is in jeopardy following the Kiama Council's decision not to renew its lease.

Jamberoo Preschool, a community-owned, not-for-profit institution, occupies a flood-prone council block granted to the school in 2008 under a 20-year lease. Over the years, the community has invested heavily in the school's construction, only to see it repeatedly inundated by floodwaters - eight times to date.

"Council has decided it is easier to let the lease expire in four years rather than undertake any flood-proofing measures," said Mike Cains, leader of the ‘Fresh Start for Kiama’ group and a candidate in the upcoming local government election.

In 2021, a Kiama Council report recommended building a flood-proof barrier for the preschool, but the necessary funding never materialised. The cost for essential sub-road surface drainage, which could significantly alleviate the school's flooding issues, is estimated in the millions.

Mr Cains recently visited Jamberoo Preschool and met with its director to discuss potential solutions. "Council has been uncooperative in helping find alternative accommodations," he remarked. "They suggested the local youth hall, but it's obviously too small for a preschool that is growing as rapidly as this one."

Jamberoo Preschool currently serves 67 families and has over 100 families on its waiting list. It is widely regarded for its high staff-to-child ratio, providing local children with an exceptional social and pre-school education.

While there are grants available from the NSW Department of Education to establish or build a new school, these grants require a long-term site lease - a condition Jamberoo Preschool currently cannot meet.

In a turn of events, the Fountaindale Group, developers of the newly approved Golden Valley Road subdivision, offered a small parcel of land from the old Araluen farm as a potential new site for the preschool. This offer is seen by some detractors as a trade-off to facilitate the approval of Golden Valley Road Stage Two.

"It's a beautiful site, with an old fig tree and space for a veggie garden and a chook run," Mr Cains acknowledged. "It's certainly a generous offer. However, Golden Valley Road Stage Two is part of Kiama Council's medium- to long-term housing strategy, which could be up to 20 years down the line – unless fast-tracked. For this to help the preschool, Golden Valley Road Stage Two would need to be fast-tracked into the 'short term' section of Kiama's new housing strategy."

But Jamberoo Preschool doesn't have 20 years, and it barely has the four years left on its current lease. "Securing a site and starting any renovation or construction work needs to happen now if the school is to have any chance in the grant application process," Cains warned.

"Kiama Council has left Jamberoo Preschool's future in limbo, and that is simply not acceptable," he continued. "Council must take an active role in securing a permanent alternative home for the preschool."

According to Cains, Kiama Council's responsibility is to help villages within its LGA become more independent and resilient. However, achieving this vision for Jamberoo requires significant work. "If we envision Jamberoo as a thriving village of 2,500 to 3,000 people, then failing to provide more housing, let alone a preschool, is simply unacceptable," he emphasised.

If elected, Cains pledges to work with other councillors to ensure that the preschool secures a permanent, long-term home that supports Jamberoo's future growth. He also mentioned that the new preschool would be a key component of a proposed "Advocacy Plan" he hopes to introduce. This plan would collate infrastructure projects, advancing them to shovel-ready status, thereby enabling Kiama Council to capitalise on state and federal grants and subsidies as they become available.

"Right now, Kiama Council lacks an advocacy plan," he explained. "The last term of council left us with little more than some resolutions and a few dot points."

"This is about setting Kiama up for the future, creating more liveable towns and villages, and putting the community first," Cains concluded.

The Kiama Labor team have told The Bugle that they are also committed to ensuring solutions can be found for Jamberoo pre-school. Both Councillors Imogen Draisma and Stuart Larkins sit on the recently established Jamberoo Pre-school working group, with Belinda Hibbert, and are advocating for solutions both at the current site and a future move. Lucy Abood, who is number three on the ticket, is also a parent who sends her kids to Jamberoo pre-school and is passionate about ensuring that solutions are found to addressing flooding or a future site move.

Councillor Larkins commented, “We know through the Jamberoo-Gerringong flood studies that a swale and a culvert is required to address flooding problems at the preschool. The costs of these pieces of infrastructure goes up into $4 million. Money that Council simply does not have. Council has been advocating to the Federal and State Governments in obtaining disaster mitigation funding and as councillors, we will continue to advocate for Jamberoo pre-school and addressing flood mitigation.”

Both Councillors are also happy to support moving the pre-school and liaising with the community on alternative locations.

Kiama Council have said, "Kiama Council has been in ongoing contact and discussions with our tenants Jamberoo Preschool over the issue of regular flooding at the preschool premises.

"The current building in which Jamberoo Preschool is located (adjoining Council’s community hall, Jamberoo School of Arts) is owned by Kiama Council and leased to Jamberoo Preschool with the current lease due to expire 2028.

"However, due to the repeated flooding of the premises, both parties have agreed this is not a viable long- or medium-term arrangement and the Preschool is looking at options to relocate.

"Council understands Jamberoo Preschool management has been speaking to another local provider about a potential move into that organisation’s premises.

"Kiama Council has been helping to facilitate this transition including providing support for the preschool to seek funding for the move (eg: from NSW Government and/or NSW Education Department), Council has also participated in discussions with local MP Gareth Ward and Jamberoo Preschool towards this aim.

"In the meantime, Council is committed to assisting where we can, providing staff to help clean-up after flooding incidents and helping the Preschool move into the Jamberoo School of Arts section of the premises if/when flooding is predicted or occurs, if that space is available."