IMPROVED early years services are a step closer for Lancefield with planning progressing on a new kindergarten and maternal and child health, MCH, building opening in 2024.
Funded and led by the State Government’s Victorian School Building Authority, VSBA, the purpose-built three-room kindergarten and MCH facility will be largely built offsite through modular construction and later transported to its home at 76A High Street, Lancefield.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council community director Maria Weiss said the new centre was one of council’s priority projects resulting from the Municipal Early Year plan, which identified a need for additional contemporary, fit-for-purpose early years infrastructure in Lancefield.
“There has been increased demand in Lancefield and surrounding areas due to population growth, the roll-out of 15 hours of funded kindergarten for three-year-olds, and the recently announced increase to 30 hours of pre-prep for four-year-olds,” she said.
“This new centre will provide more room to allow for future kinder participants and alleviate some of the pressure on surrounding areas of the shire.
“It will also see the return of a maternal and child health service to the town, which we know something residents are very much looking forward to.”
The project is supported by a $3 million VSBA Building Blocks Capacity Grant and once complete, council will manage the new kindergarten and MCH services.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has allocated $16,000 in the 2023-24 Budget to ensure the new centre is fully furnished, and $100,000 to ensure the building has improved environmental and sustainable design elements to make it more comfortable for children and staff, and more efficient and cost-effective to run in the long term.
For more information and updates as the project progresses visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/lancefieldkinder.
