A WOODEND creche that was set to close next week will stay open.The owner of the Woodend Neighbourhood Early Learning Centre has announced it will continue to operate the centre and will seek a new operator.However, the Gisborne centre will cease operating on January 19 unless a buyer can be found.The Neighbourhood Group announced last month it would close its Woodend and Gisborne centres on December 31, but later extended that date until January 19.The centres are among 14 run by the group across Victoria, NSW and Queensland that were set to close.ABC Learning holds the leases of the properties managed by the Neighbourhood Group.ABC Learning, which operates 1040 centres, went into administration and receivership in November after a $1 billion shortfall.The Neighbourhood Group operates 36 centres across the country, with 22 to remain open.However, Macedon Ranges mayor Cr John Letchford said yesterday the Woodend creche would continue to operate. “It’s excellent news and there is a lot of relief for a lot of families,” he said. But that good news is yet to come for parents of children enrolled at the Gisborne centre.The 55-place centre has a staff of 12 full-time employees, two casuals and caters for 75 families. Ten families are on the waiting list.“Those staff and parents are quite nervous about their future,” Cr Letchford said.He said he was angry at the lack of response by the Federal Government.“We have sent emails to Julia Gillard and Brendan O’Connor and their silence is deafening,” he said.“It is really disheartening that they’ve gone on vacation and left it up to local government to pick up the problem.“It shows a lack of response, knowing this is a major issue. We can’t enter into dialogue because no one is answering.” Cr Letchford said the Government should give the Neighbourhood Group the same assistance it gave to ABC.“We’re looking for the same level of response that’s been given to the parent company,” he said.“We’d like to see the Government help out for a three-month period.”