Hub is coming sooner

THERE’S something special happening in Armstrong Creek – and it’s arriving sooner than expected.

Thanks to a $4.2 million grant from the Victorian Government and a $3.5 million co-investment from Council, we’re fast-tracking the new Bloinks Community Hub (final name to be determined) on Warralily Boulevard.

These contributions mean local families will have access to a three-room kindergarten, a multipurpose community space and allied health suites three years ahead of schedule – we anticipate that doors will open by mid-next year.

Located right next to the future Warralily Park Primary School, the hub will be a game-changer for young families looking for quality education and local support services in one place.

In Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, babies and preschoolers make up more than 10 per cent of the population – double the regional average. I think I meet a new baby in my street at least once a week.

And, with another 410 children under four years old estimated to call the area home by 2026, this project couldn’t come at a better time.

Providing these services ensures we’re giving kids the best start in life close to home and supporting parents with a single drop-off point for school and kinder.

What’s also exciting is that this hub will be the first modular facility delivered by the Victorian Schools Building Authority on Council-owned land.

Modular construction means faster build times less waste, and a smaller carbon footprint than traditional building methods – so it’s also a win for the environment.

Council’s co-contribution of $3.5 million will fund additional items, including a multipurpose community room, more consulting spaces, larger kinder outdoor play areas and 17 extra carparks.

But the good news doesn’t stop there.

Planning is well under way for another fantastic facility just down the road – the new $16 million Horseshoe Bend Community Hub in Charlemont.

This centre will be located on the corner of Amber Avenue and Precinct Road, and will provide early childhood education, and maternal and child health services, along with a range of family support programs and flexible spaces for community use.

Designed in consultation with local residents, the Horseshoe Bend Community Hub will be a welcoming, purpose-built space to grow with the needs of our rapidly expanding suburbs.

Council has engaged Co-Op Architects to complete detailed designs for the hub. They are working away on these plans now, and we expect to complete the hub in 2027.

These community hubs are strong examples of how we’re making clever, future-ready investments in our growing communities. And they’re not just about children.

You only have to spend five minutes at our existing hub in Armstrong Creek East to see how these centres are essential places of social connection for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Together, these two hubs will help build stronger, more connected neighbourhoods and support the long-term wellbeing of local families.

As someone who lives and works in this community, I’m incredibly proud of our progress.

These projects show what’s possible when different levels of government work together and listen to local needs.

Armstrong Creek is more than just one of Victoria’s fastest-growing suburbs – it’s a place where we’re building a better future, one project at a time.

For more information on available places at Bloinks Community Hub Kindergarten for 2026, please check geelong.link/BloinksKinder

Cr Emma Sinclair

Charlemont Ward, City of Greater Geelong