A long-awaited Out of School Hours (OOSH) facility for North Richmond has finally been approved, with Hawkesbury City Council voting to partner with the NSW Department of Education to deliver a new 60-place service at Richmond North Public School.
The decision, made at Council’s April 14 meeting, comes after years of uncertainty for local families, with funding for the project understood to have been available since 2020 but awaiting a final Council decision.
Years of waiting for families
Before councillors voted on the proposal, they heard directly from the Headmaster of Richmond North Public School and the President of the school’s P&C, who spoke about the urgent need for additional after-school care in the area.
Both highlighted the prolonged delays and growing demand, describing the situation as increasingly difficult for working families trying to balance childcare and employment.
Their address' to Council reinforced what many parents in the Hawkesbury already experience: limited access to childcare options close to home.
New location at Richmond North Public School
The approved facility will provide 60 places, replacing earlier plans to expand the existing 45-place service currently operating out of Chas Perry Hall at the North Richmond Community and Youth Centre.
The previous plans were abandoned due to insufficient funding and site constraints linked to the redevelopment of the North Richmond Community Precinct
Following further consultation, Richmond North Public School was identified as a more suitable location, offering proximity to the existing service (approximately 500 metres away) and to the children who are in need of 'before and after school care'.
Access to established school infrastructure and resources also provides a benefit.
Funding and delivery
Council has committed $1 million from Redbank Voluntary Planning Agreement contributions to fund the project.
The funds will be transferred to the NSW Department of Education, which will deliver the facility in partnership with Council.
An additional $853,243 in voluntary contributions remain to be assigned, with further consultation planned to determine how those funds will be used to meet broader community needs.
A North Richmond resident has requested information on why it has taken 6 years to reach this point, and also where the interest accrued on the earmarked project funds is going to be allocated. The Gazette has also asked Council these questions and will publish their response.
Supporting working families
The new OOSH facility is expected to ease pressure on local families, particularly in a region often described as a childcare “desert,” where access to services is limited and demand continues to grow.
By locating the service within a school setting, the project aims to improve accessibility for parents, support workforce participation and provide a safe, consistent environment for children before and after school.
What happens next
Further stakeholder consultation will be undertaken before final plans are confirmed, with updates to be brought back to Council in future reports.
For North Richmond families, however, the decision marks a significant step forward after years of waiting; turning long-promised funding into a tangible project.
