Question - Land Management

Question

Number
1306
Subject
Land Management
(Peppercorn Lease)
Asked by
Parton, Mark
Directed to
Special Minister of State
Question asked on
29 June 2023
Answer due on
30 July 2023
Question asked
  1. Will the government be extending YWCA Canberra’s peppercorn lease arrangement at Conder Community House to provide early education to vulnerable children in Tuggeranong (55 Beaumaris Street).
  2. Has the ACT regulator, Children's Education and Care Assurance, assessed that the space is suitable for an early learning service; if so, why has the Government not responded to YWCA Canberra’s proposal to take over the empty space.
  3. How does the Government plan to meet the targets of the three-year-old preschool initiative in the Tuggeranong area without additional community run early learning services such as this in the area.
  4. When will the Government provide YWCA Canberra with a decision on whether it is extending the peppercorn lease arrangement at Conder Community House.
  5. What consideration has been given to extending the peppercorn lease so that it includes the vacant space beside Conder Community House that has been vacant for approximately eight years.
  6. What plans does the Government have for this vacant space and why has it been left vacant and unused for eight years.
  7. Can the Government detail what its future plans are for peppercorn lease arrangements which provide valuable and affordable community services across Canberra.

Answer

Answer Published
26 July 2023
Answered by
Special Minister of State
Answer
  1. The ACT Government has agreed to an extension of the current peppercorn arrangement between YWCA and the Territory for the premises known as Conder Community House.
  2. On 15 December 2022, Authorised Officers from Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA) attended the YWCA Conder Childcare Centre to assess the Conder Community House space for expansion of the early childhood program. CECA assessment was that the expansion was achievable.
  3. The ACT Government announced that the three year-old preschool initiative will be delivered in partnership with the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in the ACT. ECEC’s across ACT will be invited to participate in the program.
  4. On 6 July 2023, Special Minister of State formally wrote to the YWCA Chief Operating Officer advising of the decision to extend the current peppercorn arrangement.
  5. The decision to extend the current peppercorn licence to incorporate the vacant space at Conder Community House was considered after initial negotiations with YWCA to expand into the space as an extension of their current service offering. ACT Property Group are currently working with YWCA to prepare a licence agreement.
  6. The previously vacant space at Conder Community House has been shown to applicants on the ACT Property Group Application Register over the last eight years, however, there has been no prior interest in the space.
  7. ACT Property Group are currently drafting a principles-based approach policy relating to new peppercorn agreements. 
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