Refurb underway at children’s centre

CITY of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson was at Rowan View Children’s Centre in Wendouree last week to see a more than one and a half million-dollar refurbishment.

The facility on Forest Street will reopen next year and applications are currently being accepted for 2024 enrolments.

Previously known as the Rowan View Kindergarten, the centre will offer free three and four-year-old kinder starting in January as well as a referral-only childcare program.

The works included a full internal remodel creating three early learning years rooms, staff spaces, a welcome area, and a meeting room.

“When you walk through the front door you get that sense of how bright, how airy the new facility is,” said Cr Hudson.

“It is about repurposing the building and giving it a life for the next 15, 20, 25 years.”

The facility is located next to Forest Street Primary School and Mount Rowan Secondary College.

“We have preschool, alongside primary school, alongside a secondary school, which means we have early years through to year 12,” said Cr Hudson.

“It’s integral for lasting friendships and will hopefully take away some of that fear and anxiousness.”

The City of Ballarat municipal early years plan 2022-2026 indicated that Wendouree had the highest number of disadvantages households.

Cr Hudson said this refurbishment will help ensure equitable access to resources in Ballarat.

“This sort of investment is significant, and it is about building a good quality facility because everyone is deserving of the best start in those early years,” he said.