$1 million doubles the fun at Longwarry
Longwarry’s youngest residents are set to enjoy twice the fun after a funding announcement to double the capacity of the Longwarry Kindergarten.
To be completed by 2022, the $1 million project will expand the existing facility from a single room kindergarten offering 24 places to a dual room state-of-the-art early learning centre with 48 places.
“Without this expansion there would have been waiting lists for kindergarten places from 2022 onwards based on population figures,” Baw Baw shire councillor Jessica O’Donnell said. “Council is now able to deliver this project within the next year and set Longwarry up for the future.”
Local Government Minister Shaun Leane and Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing announced that the centre would receive $500,000 from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
“This is great news for Longwarry. We’ve got more and more young families moving into the area and this investment is all about making sure everyone can access early childhood and kindergarten as the community grows,” said Ms Shing.
The centre is the first Baw Baw Shire Council project to benefit from the Growing Suburbs Fund since its expansion to include peri-urban councils in June as part of the state government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The expanded facility will feature flexible spaces, with connected indoor and outdoor areas to promote learning and play.
Three and four-year-old kindergarten programs will be catered for as well as space for community groups.
The facility will be fully refurbished and will include a new kitchen, a large entry foyer, staff areas and toilet facilities. The existing car park will also be upgraded, and a second car park will be developed, with 23 spaces.
As the design stage is underway and the site is ready to access, the project will be added to Baw Baw Shire Council’s 2020/21 Capital Works Program for delivery by 2022.
At its council meeting on June 24, council moved a resolution to identify the Longwarry ELC expansion as one of three priority projects for the Growing Suburbs Fund. It was selected due to its need in the community and readiness for delivery.