{"id":160627,"date":"2025-05-06T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=160627"},"modified":"2025-05-05T13:47:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T03:47:42","slug":"community-hub-fast-tracked-for-armstrong-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/community-hub-fast-tracked-for-armstrong-creek\/","title":{"rendered":"Community hub fast-tracked for Armstrong Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"

A NEW Armstrong Creek community hub and kindergarten will be delivered three years earlier than planned, after the City of Greater Geelong secured a grant from the Victorian government to help fast-track the works.<\/p>\n

The grant will see a three-room modular kindergarten, able to cater for 99 local children, constructed in Warralily Boulevard, adjacent to the future Warralily Park Primary School and Coastside Drive Reserve.<\/p>\n

The kindergarten will open next year, well ahead of its original expected delivery date in 2029.<\/p>\n

It will be the first modular-constructed building to be delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority on city-owned land.<\/p>\n

These buildings are constructed in a factory in sections or “modules”, which are then assembled by builders onsite, with the aim of reducing construction time, costs, safety risks and disruption to the local community.<\/p>\n

At its April meeting last week, the city resolved to co-contribute $3.5 million to the project, which will see the kindergarten delivered alongside a multipurpose room and allied health suites, forming a new community hub at the site.<\/p>\n

Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the city couldn’t wait to see the modular Bloinks Community Hub \u2013 the hub’s interim name \u2013 up and running in 2026, and thanked the Victorian government for seeing the project’s value.<\/p>\n

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Victorian School Building Authority as it means Warralily residents will have a kindergarten and community hub three years sooner than planned.<\/p>\n

“Council’s co-contribution will fund additional items, including a multipurpose community room, more consulting spaces, larger kinder outdoor play areas and 17 extra car parks.”<\/p>\n

\"\"
The new kindergarten and community hub aims to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed communities, where more than 10 per cent of residents are babies and preschoolers \u2013 nearly two times higher than the region\u2019s average.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cr Andrew Katos said the conveniently located community hub would improve accessibility for the rapidly growing community, which is expected to welcome another 410 children under the age of four by 2026.<\/p>\n

“Children from Armstrong Creek will get access to a high-quality learning environment more quickly and families will have a ‘single drop-off’ point of kinder and school,” Cr Katos said.<\/p>\n

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said the hub would ensure families in Armstrong Creek get the best start in life, close to home.<\/p>\n

“This new hub will bring kindergarten, health services and a welcoming space for the community all under one roof \u2013 three years earlier than expected.<\/p>\n

“This is such a great win for Armstrong Creek. With so many young families in the area, the new kinder and community hub will make a real difference \u2013 helping parents juggle daily life with a single drop-off point, and giving local kids access to modern, high-quality learning spaces right from the get-go.<\/p>\n

“By fast-tracking this hub, we’re creating a place where families can connect, learn and access the support they need, all in the heart of Armstrong Creek.”<\/p>\n

To express interest in a kinder place for 2026, head to geelong.link\/BloinksKinder<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A NEW Armstrong Creek community hub and kindergarten will be delivered three years earlier than planned, after the City of Greater Geelong secured a grant from the Victorian government to help fast-track the works. The grant will see a three-room modular kindergarten, able to cater for 99 local children, constructed in Warralily Boulevard, adjacent to […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":160631,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-160627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCommunity hub fast-tracked for Armstrong Creek - Surf Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New Armstrong Creek community hub & kindergarten fast-tracked! Opening in 2026, offering early learning and family support. 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