Dumbleyung’s Tunney Street family daycare project opening stalled due to severe water damage after heavy rain

A Wheatbelt town’s new family daycare centre opening has been stalled after heavy rain caused substantial structural water damage, delaying the much-needed service’s launch.

After three years, the opening of Dumbleyung’s Tunney Street family daycare project has been pushed back an additional two months after torrential rain caused severe water intrusion into the front section of the building, rendering it uninhabitable.

Shire of Dumbleyung president Amy Knight said the shire was gearing up to open the centre’s doors at the beginning of the 2026 school year, but repairs could set the opening back until April.

Cr Knight said the shire was disappointed about the unexpected delay as the gap in daycare services had been severely felt in the community.

She said young families had been forced to move, alter work schedules, and attend daycare centres 60km out of town in recent years.

Shire councillors resolved to repurpose 36 Tunney Street, formally used for shire staff housing, as Dumbleyung’s third family daycare centre at their July 2024 meeting.

The house had been informally earmarked for the project since February 2024.

The daycare employment position also offers a rent-free dwelling at the remodelled home.

The decision was driven by a high demand for the service from the community after the former operator of a home-based family daycare service moved and closed the business in 2023.

Cr Knight said the closure had “a huge impact” on child care in the town, and the shire acted fast to mitigate the loss.

The Tunney Street centre will be the third daycare centre in the shire, with one family daycare centre open in Dumbleyung and one in Kukerin.

In July 2024, through the State Government’s Attraction and Retention Packages for Regional Child Care Workers Program, the shire was awarded a $12,988 grant to support the Dumbleyung Family Day Care Setup and Worker Attraction Project.

The funding paid for shelving, a fridge, a microwave, furnishings, house appliances, play equipment, beds, and plenty of toys.

Cr Knight said the remodelling focused on occupational, health and safety.

In October 2025, the shire announced exterior site improvement works had been completed, including a new synthetic lawn, an undercover outdoor play area, and safer fencing.

Cr Knight said the delay was disappointing as the shire had dedicated endless hours to the project and was about to cross the finish line.

She said the shire was itching to open the new daycare as it supported its push for economic development.

“We want to provide support for working families, and it’s an attraction for people to move to our town,” she said.

“To provide a service for their families, growing families or future intentions that is sometimes missed or not available in smaller towns.”

Cr Knight said despite the unexpected maintenance, the community feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, and seeing everything assembled and “come to life” had been great.

“It’s exciting to know that our community kids will be able to benefit and we’re supporting families,” she said.