A new $5.9 million family and community centre being built in Botanic Ridge is on track to open for Term 1 next year.
The hub delivers a much-needed kindergarten and maternal and child health services for the growing community.
City of Casey is jointly funding the new facility with the State Government, which is being built on the grounds of the new Botanic Ridge Primary School.
The integrated family and community centre will be home to two fout-year-old kindergarten playrooms, two maternal and child health consult suites and a large, multi-purpose community room available for hire to deliver a range of community programs, activities and services.
Council has already been taking kindergarten enrolments from families, with the kindergarten to initially operate one room full time from Term 1, accommodating up to 50 children.
Balla Balla Ward Councillor Geoff Ablett said council was excited to give the community an update on this project, with many families looking forward to the centre opening its doors.
“We’re working closely with the Victorian School Building Authority and Department of Education to deliver this new facility on the school site, which will bring many benefits to local families,” he said.
“Co-locating with the school will help local children make a smooth transition from kindergarten and reduce the number of drop-offs for some parents with both kinder and school-aged children, as there will be a single point of entry for both the school community and those accessing the family and community centre.
“Council has been running the Botanic Ridge Interim Kindergarten out of a portable building on Devon Meadows Primary School, which was designed to fill the gap in kindergarten services while waiting for the more permanent kindergarten to be built.
“So, it’s with great excitement that our new kindergarten will be completed soon, and we look forward to welcoming the first cohort of children in 2020.”
Council also plans to undertake some other projects for the Botanic Ridge community, including constructing an extension of Orchard Drive to improve access to the school and community facilities.
There are also plans for a new sports reserve to be constructed south of the primary school site that will cater for soccer and cricket. This project is currently in the design phase, and it’s anticipated that construction will start in the next four years.
Any families who are interested in attending the new Botanic Ridge kindergarten should contact Council’s Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning team on 9705 5200.
