Ribbon cut on kinder works

UPGRADES at Golden Square Kindergarten have been officially opened.

A recent event saw Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, join with children, their parents and kinder staff for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The works included construction of a new classroom, planning and meeting room, and clean up space as well as general maintenance to the facility on Panton Street.

A statement from Ms Edwards office said the additions would allow for 66 additional places at the pre-school and came ahead of statewide free three-year-old kinder in 2023.

“We’re proud to be boosting early childhood services in Bendigo because we know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives,” Ms Edwards said.

“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria to help kids and their families access better quality facilities.”

The new building will be used for three-year-old and pre-kinder sessions, with those services having been temporarily located in Eaglehawk during construction at Panton Street.

Ms Edwards’ statement said the State Government is spending $9 billion on the free kinder initiative that aims to provide 15 hours of three-and-four-year-old kindergarten for all children in Victoria.

There’s also plans to set up 50 government-run childcare centres as well as a push for new primary schools to include kindergartens as part of their establishment.