🗳️ Petition Launched to Save Bega's Vital Inclusion Hub

A critical community asset in Bega, the PlayAbility Inclusion Hub at 31–35 Parker Street, is at risk of being sold on the open market, prompting local citizens to launch an urgent petition to the NSW State Parliament. The petition calls for government intervention to safeguard the purpose-built facility, which has been vital for families in the Bega Valley and surrounding regions.

For over four decades, PlayAbility Inc. delivered essential community-based early intervention and family support services. These included inclusive playgroups, a Mobile Toy Library Truck, parent education, and access to multidisciplinary therapies such such as developmental supports, psychology, and speech pathology for children with disabilities and developmental delays. The Inclusion Hub itself, officially opened on 4 October 2023, was established with funding from Bushfire Recovery grants, intended to aid the community's healing and rebuilding efforts after the devastating 2019–20 fires.

However, following the liquidation of PlayAbility Inc., the future of the hub is uncertain. Records indicate that PlayAbility Incorporated had an administrator appointed on January 10, 2025, and later entered a Deed of Company Arrangement on March 5, 2025. The property at 31-35 Parker Street, Bega, is now explicitly listed for sale by auction on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, by Ray White Commercial (SC) and Bega Realty on behalf of the liquidators.

Originally built in 1993 as the Bega Valley Day Surgery Center, the site was reinvented in 2022 as an NDIS not-for-profit childcare facility. This transformation aimed to address a significant need, especially with current waiting lists for child placements in the Bega Valley Shire estimated at 6 to 12 months. The property boasts a flexible MU1 Mixed Use zoning, making it suitable for a range of community-focused operations including healthcare, NDIS services, childcare, or education facilities.

The petition, addressed to the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, urges the government to:

• Investigate the PlayAbility liquidation process and proposed asset disposal.
• Ensure the 31–35 Parker Street Hub remains dedicated to community-based, not-for-profit organisations.
• Support the NSW Government and Bega Valley Shire Council to secure community ownership or protective heritage status for the Hub.

Petitions to the NSW Parliament serve as an important mechanism for citizens to convey their concerns. If a petition gathers 500 or more signatures, the responsible Minister is required to provide a response within 35 calendar days. Should an ePetition garner over 20,000 signatures, it can even be scheduled for a debate in the House. The local community is encouraged to sign the petition to help ensure the Bega Inclusion Hub continues to provide its much-needed services rather than being lost to private sale.