Small Friends Childcare and Education in Kialla was unexpectedly closed on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The landlord of the building from which Kialla’s Small Friends Childcare and Education operates has apologised to the community for the sudden closure of the centre on Wednesday afternoon.
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Developer Michael Awad, who owns the premises at 39 Sanctuary Dve, acknowledged it was an inconvenience to the families with children enrolled at the facility, but claimed the tenant hadn’t paid rent for several months and owed him around $220,000.
“It is hard for everyone,” Mr Awad said.
“Turning people away from the centre and the workers away from work.”
Mr Awad has terminated the tenancy.
He says four final notices had been issued to Lan Hua Zhang and Lin Wang from early in November, warning the premises would be locked up on November 27 at 5pm if debts remained unpaid.
Landlord Michael Awad apologised to the community for the inconvenience.
Photo by
Bree Harding
A Gold Coast resident, Mr Awad travelled to Kialla on Wednesday to action the warning and arrange temporary fencing and security monitoring around the facility.
He camped on the premises overnight Wednesday and said he was disturbed around 2.30am by unknown trespassers armed with wrenches and drills.
He believes they were attempting to dismantle the temporary fencing and gain entry to the building.
He says he armed himself with a stick and asked them to leave, before police arrived and arrested him after what he says were wrongful accusations of assault.
Mr Awad said he was held at Shepparton Police Station for around four hours before being released without charges.
Shepparton Police did not provide information about any arrests or assaults that took place overnight on Wednesday.
Interested passers-by inquired about the activity when fencing was being put up on Wednesday afternoon.
Subsequently, a Facebook post was made, which sparked an influx of concerned families arriving on-site.
Witnesses say the footpath was lined with people until late into the night.
On Thursday morning an announcement was sent to parents of children enrolled in the centre.
“This is to inform you that due to the unavoidable circumstances last night we have to close the centre today,” the announcement read.
“Further updates will be provided.
“The landlord has been arrested by police.
“We will need today to organise the removal of fencing.
“Sorry for any inconvenience caused. We will not charge any fee for today.”
The notice was signed by Small Friends Child Care and Education area manager Farah Naqvi and posted by Anna Zhang.
Small Friends Childcare and Education in Kialla was unexpectedly closed on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A further update around noon suggested that the landlord had attempted to share the front of the centre for a catering business, which Small Friends Childcare and Education did not agree to.
The post by Anna Zhang said the disagreement had led to the current situation.
The News reached out directly to Small Friends Childcare and Education for comment on the allegations, but did not receive a response by the time of publishing.
Mr Awad said parents, teachers and students would be granted entry to the building to retrieve their belongings.
He said he expected the closure to be in place for up to three weeks before the centre was operational again with a new tenant.
If anyone would like to contact The News with further information, please email editor@sheppnews.com.au
