A project that will transform Sebastopol and become a vital part of community life has reached a major construction milestone.
The concrete slab of the Sebastopol Community Hub is about to be poured, as significant progress continues to be made towards the community-shaping project.
It is expected the structural steel framing will be complete in autumn as the designs start to become reality.
The community hub will provide a vital facility for Sebastopol and surrounding suburbs and has extensive financial support from all three tiers of government.
The collaborative project is jointly funded by the City of Ballarat (up to $5 million), the Federal Government ($4.5 million) via the Investing in Our Communities program and the State Government ($4.5 million) via the Building Blocks Capacity program.
The Sebastopol Community Hub will include:
- Three 22-place kindergarten rooms
- A main hall with a 150-person capacity
- Three meeting rooms with varying capacities ranging from 12-50 people
- Maternal child health consulting rooms
- A community kitchen
- A kindergarten play space and an undercover play area
- On-site carparking
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves joined Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison for an inspection of the early stages of the works on Friday.
Significant progress has been made since the previous site tour in June 2024, with the project on track for completion in early 2026.
Cr Hargreaves said it was an exciting stage for the project at the corner of Vickers and Beverin streets.
"We are extremely proud to have both Federal and State support for this project and to see it starting to come to life is incredible," she said.
"This is going to be a transformational project for the Sebastopol area that will provide an enormous boost to community life for a wide range of people."
Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King said the facility would provide a boost for a range of generations.
"It's so exciting to see this important project taking shape," she said.
"The new Sebastopol Community Hub will be a place of learning and social connection for both kinder kids and senior citizens.
"It will be a special, multi-generational facility and that will serve our community for generations to come."
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the facility would benefit the entire community.
"By investing $4.5 million into the Sebastopol Community Hub through our Building Blocks Capacity program, we are not only creating new kindergarten rooms and places - but contributing funds for a much-needed purpose built space for the whole community," she said.
