However despite the assurances which parents received in a pro- forma letter from ABC Learning Centres CEO Eddy Groves this week, there are concerns that a child care crisis might be looming.

Orange City Council children’s services coordinator Melissa Stanford said that if Orange’s four ABC centres were to close their doors, the council would not be able to accommodate the majority of the displaced children.

Although the council operates initiatives such as family day care placements, and various daycare centres, there are limited vacancies and waiting lists in several of the facilities.

“We would try and fit people in where we could and try to help people,” said Ms Stanford.

“However if it were to happen this would be a real disaster which people have never really considered before now.”

According to Ms Standford while there has been a lot of focus on the financial losses the ABC is suffering, there has been little thought as to how any future closures may impact on families.

“If something does happen it will be up to the government to step in.”

With uncertainty about the future of ABC growing, private centres such as Willows Preschool and Early Learning Centre have experienced an “unprecedented” number of inquires from parents wanting to enrol.

According to Willows owner Cathy Carroll parents seeking to enrol children for the first time have expressed concern over the future of ABC.

“We have never had so many people wanting places for their children.”

“I don’t think the ABC centres will close; I think it’s more likely that they will be sold off.”

One of the directors/owners of the Waratah Early Learning Centre Kellie Doulin said she has at least one inquiry a week from parents wishing to move their children from an ABC centre to her north Orange centre.

According to Mrs Doulin the reasons for the switch varies.

“When the ABC share price dropped earlier in the year we had a lot of inquires.

“However most parents come to us because they want to pay less or would like a change of care.”

“The same week that ABC raised its fees we had a lot of people wanting to enrol their children here.”

At press time the ABC had not returned the Central Western Daily’s calls.