NATIONALS candidate for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, and Shadow Minister for Regional Education and Regional Development, Darren Chester, have announced a future Coalition Government will provide funding to upgrade facilities at Nurruby Children Service in Narrabri.

Mr Chaffey said if elected and the Nationals help form government at the forthcoming election, $600,000 will be provided to renovate the recently purchased Barwan Street Centre to allow for Nurruby Child Services to operate a 22-place service for children aged 0-3 years.

“Everywhere I go in the Parkes electorate it’s about the 3 Cs, childcare, healthcare and aged care,” Mr Chaffey said.

“The Nationals understand that investing in early childhood education will improve the educational outcomes for children, which will also have long-term benefits for the Narrabri community.

“We need to get these three care sectors right, to ensure we can retain locals and to attract new people to our communities to fill the abundance of employment opportunities and grow our regional areas.

“If we are going to get the balance right to grow our regional communities, this investment is a must,” he said.

“This is my commitment, and the Nationals commitment to Narrabri, because we believe in regional communities and want to support projects that have been championed by the community for the community.

Nurruby Children Services will contribute $600,000 towards the project, bringing the total investment for the Narrabri community to $1.2million.

Nurruby Children Services staff, parents and children, Jamie and Judy Chaffey, Mark and Robyn Coulton, and Darren Chester.

Nurruby Children Services managing director, Prue Jamieson, said there has been a critical shortage of childcare in Narrabri for years, especially for the 0–3-year-old age group.

“We are thrilled that this project may soon become a reality, thanks to the $600,000 campaign commitment. This new service will provide much-needed education and care for our youngest children,” Ms Jamieson said.

Mr Chester said the funding demonstrates the Nationals’ strong focus on delivering for regional communities.

“Regional Australia has been left behind by Labor’s city-centric childcare policies that haven’t done anything to address access in regional Australia,” Mr Chester said.

“The Nationals are committed to delivering care to our regions because we know it is key to attracting the critical skills that allow communities like Narrabri to thrive.”

The commitment comes on the back of recent pledges of $700,000 for Gwydir Day Care in Moree, $87,321.20 for Mungindi Childcare, $425,500 for Coonamble Pre-School, and $60,000 for the Bogan Shire Early Learning Centre.