City of Moonee Valley Council has welcomed a more than $20 million commitment from the Victorian Government for upgrades to five council kindergartens which will see more than 500 new kinder places become available by 2028-29.
The Building Blocks Partnership – a joint venture between the Victorian Government and the City of Moonee Valley – was announced today by Victoria’s Minister for Children, Lizzie Blandthorn.
The Minister confirmed funding for major upgrades to kinder centres in Keilor East, Essendon, Ascot Vale and Airport West.
The capital works will be staggered across four to five years, and ultimately provide up to 523 extra places across the five kindergartens, she said.
“Our partnership with Moonee Valley City Council will deliver hundreds of new kindergarten places via a pipeline of projects, giving more families in Melbourne’s northwest access to great local kinders close to home.”
“An investment in kinder is an investment in our children’s future – our Building Blocks partnerships are delivering more than 10,000 new kindergarten places across Victoria, so more children can get the best start in life,” said Minister Blandthorn.
Three of the projects will be delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority, and two by the Council.
The news was welcomed by Moonee Valley City Council Mayor, Pierce Tyson.
Mayor Tyson said the works would enable the council to meet the evolving needs of the Moonee Valley community, with capacity at four of the five kindergartens set to triple.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Victorian Government for recognising, and responding to, our growing need for kindergarten places in Moonee Valley,” he said.
“By 2028-29 we will have up to an extra 523 places and up to a total of 811 places once the works at these five kindergartens are complete – that’s a 180% increase on what is currently available.”
Work is scheduled to begin on a new Montgomery Park Kindergarten this year without disruption to the existing site, the Mayor confirmed.
Other sites to be redeveloped include Coronation, Lincolnville, Milleara Gardens and Airport West kindergartens.
Moonee Valley is one of 14 municipalities to receive funding under the partnership, which will see more than 11,000 extra three- and four-year-old kindergarten places provided across Victoria.
