Ratepayers will have to meet the cost of demolishing the building.
When the North Sydney Council created Hume Place in the 1980s, the childcare building was beautifully designed by Feiko Bauman to be an integral element of the park.
With a low, grassed roof — and if the play area can be opened on weekends — keeping this much-loved and much-needed centre would have NO impact on open space — apart from enriching the park and the neighbourhood.
Following further discussion of this issue at the recent September meeting of the Waverton Precinct Committee, our chair, Ian Grey, wrote to the Minister and the Mayor urging the retention of the childcare centre.
Ian’s letter to Minister Paul Scully is here.
The Minister promptly replied, attaching a copy of his letter to the Mayor dated 4 September 2026. The Minister advised the Mayor that state funds for the expansion of Hume Street Park would not include the cost of demolishing the childcare centre.
The Council is facing mounting opposition to the needless eviction of the parent-run childcare service.
It will also have to explain why the cost of a wasteful demolition of a well-designed building should be met by ratepayers.
The Minister’s reply is here.