New rooms set for Children’s Centre

DEVELOPMENT work on the Wendouree Children’s Centre will begin soon following an official sod turning event on Friday.

Upgrades to the Centre will include two maternal and child health spaces and a waiting room.

The works will be paid for via $350,000 State government grant from the Children’s Facilities Capital Program and the municipality, which is contributing $210,000.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said the State government is commitment to seeing younger members of the community to get the best start in life.

“This is great news for all families living in the area,” she said. “Not only are we going to have an extended maternal health centre it will be integrated with the childcare centre and the kindergarten.”

Construction will be underway shortly with the finish date scheduled for March 2020.

Ms Addison congratulated the city for being a partner in the program.

“I am really pleased that we are working so closely with the City of Ballarat to deliver this very important project,” she said.

The Centre is owned and operated by council and provides long-day care and sessional kindergarten services.

Maternal and child health services have been running in a trial phase since February 2018.

“This expansion meets the Municipal Early Years Plan’s strategic priority for healthy children and thriving families,” said City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh.

“It also supports the City of Ballarat Council Plan objectives to provide inclusive and accessible public spaces, quality services, and opportunities for the community to participate, feel safe and be active and healthy.”