Warragul Early Learning Centre Project
A new Early Learning Centre for our growing community.
Baw Baw Shire’s population is growing quickly. Our overall annual growth rate is at 2.9%, this is significantly more than the 1.8% state average.
These figures are even higher in our main growth areas of Warragul and Drouin. With more young families moving to the Shire each year, and as birth rates continue to rise, so does the need for more early years services.
Currently there are scarce vacancies available to cover kindergarten places in our main townships. New applications are received at such a rate that we regularly face waiting lists for places.
At this point, enrolment data and population trends suggest that we will need to build a new kindergarten facility in the Shire every two years.
To help us cater for our growing community, we need additional infrastructure to support more kindergarten positions for 2019 and into the future.
Once completed, the Warragul Early Learning Centre (ELC) project will provide an additional 132 kindergarten places.
Baw Baw Shire Council has been in close consultation with the Warragul Primary School and both parties acknowledge and support the value of this project.
The project scope involves the construction of a 498m2 ELC to be co-located at the Warragul Primary School, Bowen Street Campus.
The building will feature:
- Two multi-use activity rooms.
- Lounge/waiting area.
- Two consultation rooms for dedicated allied health and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services.
- Staff office, staff meeting and lunch room.
- Additional car parking including accessible ramps.
- Landscaping and signage.
The total budget to deliver this project is $3.2 million.
Baw Baw Shire Council has been successful insecuring funding support from both Stave and Federal Governments.
Total funding contributions include:
Baw Baw Shire Council - $970,000
Developer:
- Contribution Levy - $781,000
- State Government - $650,000
- Federal Government - $800,000
Total Project Cost- $3,201,000
Following approval of the tender for construction works, works are anticipated to commence on site from July 2018.
Construction works are expected to be completed by the end of March 2019, with the ELC operational in time for Term Two in 2019.
During construction there will be additional activity in the area around the project site.
These activities will include:
- Service locating.
- Earthworks including excavations.
- Deliveries of material.
- Car park works.
- Building works.
- Landscaping and site reinstatement.
Every effort will be made to minimise the impacts to the community during the construction works.
Kindergarten infrastructure remains one of Council’s key advocacy priorities. We will continue to advocate for the needs of our growing Shire to other levels of Government so we can work together to deliver projects that matter.
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the Warragul Early Learning Centre Project, please get in touch with us on 5624 2411, via Live Chat on our website or vie Facebook Messenger at any time during business hours.