Lucas hub expansion officially opened

THE Lucas Community Hub Expansion project was officially opened last week by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and City of Ballarat mayor Cr Hargreaves.

The expansion includes a 33-place kinder room, outdoor play spaces, accessible foyer, staff planning, laundry, and storage areas.

The State Government contributed $1.5 million to the project via the Building Blocks Capacity Grants Program, with the City of Ballarat contributing a further $134,603.

There are now three separate kindergarten rooms on site to accommodate 99 children at once.

Currently there are 95 three-year-old kindergarteners and 126 in the four-year old area.

“Since the Lucas Community Hub first opened in 2016, the local population has grown an extraordinary amount, so our services need to grow to match that,”said Cr Hargreaves.

“This expansion ensures we continue to provide high-quality, accessible early years services close to home, helping children in Lucas and surrounding areas to be school ready.

“We know this is one of the most multicultural areas of Ballarat and this new facility has proved of great benefit to many families.”

Ms Haylett said the centre changes will mean more savings of up to $2600 per child with free kinder.

As part of the works, the Lucas Community Garden has been adapted and has kids and sensory spaces, and more fruit trees.

The hub also offers maternal and child health, immunisation, and library facilities, and hirable meeting areas.

Enrolments are being taken for 2026 on the City of Ballarat kindergarten website.

Kindergarten is free for all attending participating programs.