More than 90 new long day care places will be available in Horsham by August under a Horsham Rural City Council plan to ease the Wimmera's severe childcare shortage.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said rooms at Kalkee Road Children's and Community Hub were now available for long day care after Emerge Early Learning Services shifted its kindergarten program to a new Horsham North facility.
"Emerge Early Learning Services secured funding to move to a new two-room kindergarten at the Rasmussen Road school," she said.
"With three rooms at the Hub now vacant, there's an opportunity for Council to host a much-needed long day care at the Hub.
"Council is currently working with a childcare provider to plan for 92 extra long day care places to be made available, with an announcement due shortly," Cr Gulline said.
Cr Gulline confirmed there had been no reduction in kindergarten places in Horsham.
"The Kalkee Road Hub will remain a central part of childcare and kindergarten services in our municipality.
"By reverting Kalkee Road Children's and Community Hub to the original design and use, which was for long day care and in venue kindergarten, we hope to ease the critical long day care shortage.
"We are in a transition period right now as the Hub becomes a long day care venue, but, with the Rasmussen site up and running, there has been no reduction in kindergarten places in Horsham.
Maternal and child health services and supported playgroup will continue to operate from the Hub alongside the long day care.
