Moorabool Shire Council has vowed to pursue more funding for early learning services so children don’t miss out on kindergarten places.
The council is calling on all politicians and candidates in the November state election to contribute funds to an Integrated Early Years Hub in Darley.
Mayor Paul Tatchell said unprecedented growth was producing above-average demands on local early- years services, and a solution was needed urgently.
The council has identified a preferred site to build an early-years hub and has resolved to proceed to the design stage.
The proposed hub would provide three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, maternal and child health, a toy library, playgroups, family support services and occasional care.
While $2.85 million has been set aside for the project, a further $1.75 million is required from the state government.
“Bacchus Marsh is growing at a rate of 2.8 per cent a year and our existing Lerderderg Children’s Centre operates
out of a temporary prefabricated building, so we need to act now,” Cr Tatchell said.
“The centre is fully subscribed and has a long waiting list, so it’s essential we get this project completed so we don’t have children missing out or having to travel out of Bacchus Marsh for kindergarten.”
Figures released by the council suggest 300 four-year-old children will need kindergarten places by 2016, but there will be just over 200 places available.
“We’ve spoken to politicians and candidates on both sides about this issue and we call on them to have a fully funded early-years hub for Bacchus Marsh in their plans leading into the state election in November,” Cr Tatchell said.
