Five new and expanded kindergartens, catering for more than 1,000 new kinder places, will be built across the City of Melton under a new partnership between Melton City Council and the Victorian Government.
Council has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt of an initial $17.3 million as part of the Building Blocks Partnership Agreement, adding to Council's $13 million contribution to deliver the first round of infrastructure projects to meet the needs of children and families in this fast-growing City.
The works will enable Council and the state government to provide 1,120 new funded kindergarten places to local three and four-year-old children, supporting the state's roll out of the three-year-old kindergarten reform.
The projects:
- Rockbank Murray Road Children's and Community Centre: a four-kindergarten room integrated children's centre by 2023
- Weir Views: a four-kindergarten room integrated children's centre by 2025
- Fraser Rise: a four-kindergarten room integrated children's centre by 2025
- Deanside: a four-kindergarten room integrated children's centre by 2026
- Melton West: a one kindergarten room extension by 2026
Council has also welcomed an in-principle state government commitment of up to $20 million for a further five local projects that will provide an additional 1,320 funded kindergarten places in the City of Melton by 2029. Council will also provide $21.9 million towards these projects and source additional funding from other government grant programs and developer infrastructure contributions.
City of Melton Mayor Cr Goran Kesic said the funding would provide young children with a strong start to their education and development.
"The City of Melton is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia. With 52 babies born every week, it's so important that we work together to ensure every child gets the best start to their development and education," Cr Kesic said.
"Kindergarten helps children become confident learners in a safe and supported environment.
"We're proud to partner with the state government to make kinder accessible for all local three and four-year-olds."
