Centre of health

A new $4.5 million kinder and health centre is on the way to Geelong’s northern suburbs.
Construction of the Hendy Street Child and Family Centre was scheduled to begin in September, City Hall announced this week.
The city-funded facility will include a kindergarten, maternal and child health consulting rooms, outdoor playgrounds, a multi-purpose playgroup room and a parents’ lounge.
The council appointed Perkins Architects, which also designed similar centres at Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Windsor Park, to begin work on the plan.
Councillor Tony Ansett said the centre would be a “great benefit” to young families in the northern suburbs.
“Corio is a location that has been strategically selected as an area in need of an early learning centre due to the growing number of families and young children.
“I look forward to construction beginning later this year.”
Cr Kylie Fisher said the centre was the city’s latest investments in developing children’s early-learning centres throughout Geelong.
The council opened “integrated children’s centres” last year at Grovedale, Corio, Leopold and Barwon Heads and at Ocean Grove in 2014, she said.
“It’s vital to provide young families with accessible early learning centres where they can develop their skills and have social interaction.”
The Hendy Street facility will replace an existing Corio Maternal and Health Centre, William Hovell Kindergarten and former Rosewall and Corio South kindergartens.
City Hall said the plans go on display at Hendy Street Community Hall, William Hovell Pre-School Centre and Northern Bay College Hendy Street Campus from Monday.