Parents are rallying to save the KU Kira Child Care Centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, after Sydney Water confirmed it will not renew the lease on the Paddington site, forcing the long-running centre to close by December.
Leading the community outcry is parent Nick Koutsoukos, who warned the decision would be deeply disruptive for families already struggling to access childcare in the area.
The not-for-profit centre, which has operated for 35 years, is set to shut despite ongoing demand and long waiting lists across the eastern suburbs.
Koutsoukos told The Daily Telegraph the move was short-sighted, saying: “It’s madness when you’ve got a purpose-built, operating centre and they’re just looking at it from a property perspective without any concern for the community.”
He added: “This has serviced thousands of families in the local community over the course of decades. It’s a real loss.”
Parents say the closure could leave dozens of families without care, with some facing waitlists of up to two years at nearby centres.
“People are really considering what their options are and facing the fact that they might just not have childcare when the centre closes,” Koutsoukos said.
In response, families and community members have launched a petition to NSW Parliament and written to senior government figures, calling for an urgent intervention to halt the sale and secure the centre’s future.
A spokesperson for Sydney Water defended the decision, stating: “As a state-owned corporation, providing childcare to the broader community falls outside Sydney Water’s core business. We are therefore required to ensure ratepayer-funded assets are used efficiently and in line with our primary objectives.”
Parents, however, argue the move contradicts broader government commitments to expand access to affordable early childhood education, with some calling for a collaborative solution to keep the centre operating.
