By ANNA USHER

North Sydney Council is sitting on at least $2.5 million that could save Kelly’s Place, the much-loved Crows Nest childcare centre it plans to bulldoze for a park, two councillors say.

Councillors James Spenceley and Jessica Keen will ask their colleagues on Monday night to spend the money, drawn from developer fees set aside for childcare, on securing or building a new home for the centre.

Kelly’s Place has cared for local families on the corner of Hume and Clarke Streets since 1988. It must move out by 31 December so the site can be flattened and folded into an expanded Hume Street Park.

The council holds more than $100 million in restricted funds. The motion notes that, of roughly $16 million set aside for community facilities, just $219,000 has been spent since 2021.

Of that pot, $2.55 million is earmarked specifically for childcare. The councillors want up to $2.5 million of it put towards Kelly’s Place.

“Unless a new location and facility is secured, the community will lose these important childcare places,” Councillor Spenceley told Mosman Collective. “Council has money earmarked for childcare funds and could save Kelly’s Place – the question is, do they want to?”

Crows Nest and St Leonards have the lowest supply of public open space in the North Sydney area, and one of the lowest in Sydney. The park expansion has been planned for almost two decades.

Council and the centre have looked at several alternative sites since 2019, including the Crows Nest metro tower, Waverton Bowling Club and a string of car parks, but none had suitable regulatory and size requirements necessary for a childcare service.

“We are simply asking Council to properly examine whether the funds that already exist for exactly this kind of purpose can be used to help keep Kelly’s Place in our community,” Councillor Jessica Keen told Mosman Collective.

A spokesperson for North Sydney Council said open space was a priority due to recent NSW government housing reforms and forecast population growth.

“The reality for many people living in the Crows Nest area is that they do not have access to private backyard open space and instead rely heavily on the limited public open space,” the spokesperson said.

“Given the scope and nature of the proposed works, retaining the childcare centre on the existing site while redevelopment occurs is not considered feasible.”

Councillors debate the motion on Monday. Whatever they decide, the lease on Kelly’s Place runs out on 31 December.