Clear roads for complex

Children’s centre close to start

TRAFFIC issues will be tackled before work starts on a new $5.5 million children’s centre in Highton next year.

Plans are being finalised for the complex, which will be built on land behind Bellaire Primary School.

Geelong council said feedback from hundreds of residents had been mostly positive.

Construction work is expected to start in January.

About 100 people attended an information session at Bellaire Primary School last month, with hundreds more submitting their views online.

“We’ve received a fantastic response from the community towards the plans and design,” council’s community life director Linda Quinn said.

“The enhanced centre will boost the quality of child services available to families in the area.”

In response to concerns about increased congestion and parking, a traffic engineer has been appointed to try to mitigate the traffic impacts on the area.

A joint project between the school, Geelong council and State Government, the centre will provide a connection between early years and primary school.

The complex will feature a kindergarten, maternal and child health services, large multipurpose community space and include 43 new offstreet spaces for cars.

Construction is expected to be completed in November next year, before opening in 2019. MEANWHILE, the biggest children’s centre of its kind in the Geelong region is set to open in 2019.

A $17.24 million facility will be built in Armstrong Creek East to cater for the suburb’s growing population.

The city’s largest centre will include 99 new pre-school places and long day care for 116 children, as well as maternal and child health and family support services.

It will also feature shared spaces, including four community rooms, a commercial kitchen and co-working areas.

The council is seeking a contractor for the project.

Building works are expected to start as early as this year, with the centre slated to open in 2019.

“This centre will be the biggest of its kind in the Greater Geelong region, and reflects the incredible growth we’ve continued to see in Armstrong Creek,” Ms Quinn said.

“It’s an exciting and muchneeded project for families and the greater community of Armstrong Creek.”

“The enhanced centre will boost the quality of child services available to families in the area.” COUNCIL’S LINDA QUINN