AN expansion of Trentham's early learning facility will be completed by the end of the year.
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Works began on the expansion of the Bridge Street facility in early May, after years of community campaigning for childcare facilities to suit the changing demographic of the town.
Related coverage: Trentham kinder upgrade funded
Residents had long campaigned for not only better facilities, but for more kinder and childcare places within the town.
The upgrade to the early learning centre, run by ECKA, will include the construction of an extra room, to be used for childcare.
Hepburn Shire Council mayor and Coliban Ward councillor Licia Kokocinski said the project was exciting for the community, as it had been on the cards for a long time but had "ebbed and flowed" over the years.
"The community will welcome this facility and I'm sure it will be well-used for childcare because the demand is there," Cr Kokocinski said.
However, she said that not all of the community's expectations could be met in the delivery of the project, specifically regarding long day childcare for working parents.
"There has been an expectation for long day childcare five days a week but financially, that's not possible," Cr Kokocinksi said.
Apart from the financial reasons, she said long day childcare was also difficult to staff.
Cr Kokocinksi said the expansion of the early learning facility was the first step to provide childcare in the community for a standard working day and if the demand for long day childcare grew stronger and staff could be found, it would be a possibility down the track.
The new room requires a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, meaning a number of trees located near the new building need to be removed.
These removals will be offset with certified vegetation offsets.
The $668,435 upgrade was announced in October 2018 and was funded by Hepburn Shire Council and the state government.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the expansion would ensure that all children across the community would have access to first-rate childhood facilities.
Construction will take about six months and during the construction period, the kindergarten will still be able to function. It is expected that the facility upgrade will be completed by November this year.
Contact ECKA to register your interest ecka@vic.chariot.net.au
