The childcare centre caught up in a bitterly fought dispute over tennis courts at Telopea Park School has called on Chief Minister Andrew Barr to provide certainty about its future in the community.
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The government has taken over the school's tennis courts and changeroom facilities as part of plans to sell the land for a new site for the Manuka Occasional Childcare Centre, with its existing Manuka home to be given to the Canberra Services Club.
Strongly opposed by the school community, the plans have been an ongoing headache for Mr Barr and Education Minister Joy Burch. Mr Barr has offered to consider alternative sites as the government faced criticism over its lack of consultation with the school before the land was sold.
On Friday, Manuka Occasional Childcare Centre director Robby McGarvey and the Telopea Park Parents and Citizens Association welcomed news of a possible compromise site near the Griffith shops.
Ms McGravey said she was disappointed the dispute remained unresolved.
"MOCCA really is in a position that we do want confirmation from the ACT government that we will have a place in the community," she said.
"We need this for our families and for the future of our business and we're looking to a solution, as Minister Shane Rattenbury said, a better solution for all groups.
"We are assured that the ACT government is going to help MOCCA and that is very heartening for us."
A spokesman for Mr Barr said the government had remained open to an appropriate alternative site and confirmed land behind the Griffith shops was being considered by officials from the Land Development Agency.
The spokesman said plans for the Telopea Park tennis courts would continue to progress to ensure new facilities could be made available for students if the current proposal went ahead.
This week Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury gave his support to opponents of the tennis courts sale, asking Mr Barr to find a better solution. Mr Rattenbury's intervention was seen as a strong signal the government might be forced into a backdown.
Ms McGravey said Griffith's block 33 was a good size, with proximity to public facilities and only two bus stops from Manuka.
"It looks fantastic but we don't want to be in opposition because another community group needs the land."
Telopea Parents and Citizens Association president Paul Haesler welcomed the new proposal as a "huge step" in the right direction.
"We're disappointed that the government is pushing ahead with its current timetable. We are keen to see this resolved and we hope they will do the right thing," he said.
An adjacent Griffith site was put forward as part of a report from the association but Mr Haesler said the current proposal was raised with him on Friday.
"I am really glad to see the government is looking at this great site but I am disappointed it has taken them this long," Mr Haesler said.
"The government's public position has been steadily softening over the past few months."
The school has been offered $800,000 for replacement sports facilities. In April, it was reported the Land Development Agency and Education Directorate instructed Telopea principal Kerrie Blain not to tell the school's board or P&C about the deal until the government had prepared a communication strategy.
