Ash Bolt
Work has started on a new $13 million community hub to support residents in the growing Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed area.
The City of Greater Geelong committed $10.706 million to the Armstrong Creek West Community Hub project, while the state government contributed $2.25 million through the Building Blocks Grant program.
The centre will provide a range of early childhood and family support services including a kindergarten, maternal and child health, consulting services and multipurpose community spaces.
The hub will also include playground areas, verandas for all weather use, a large central foyer, a parent lounge, public toilets and off-street carparking.
The site for the new centre is next to the Mirropoa Primary School which will further benefit the community by providing the opportunity for connections between the two facilities and services.
Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman visited the site on Tuesday to mark the start of the project’s construction works.
Cr Sullivan said the hub was essential to ensure Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed residents had access to important services and facilities within their community.
“The new energy efficient five-star Green Star-rated child and community centre will cater for the growing population of the Armstrong Creek-Mt Duneed area, providing kindergarten places for three and four-year-old children, along with various community spaces,” he said.
“Council’s investment in early childhood facilities provides the essential infrastructure required by our growing population and ensures our children get the best possible start in life.”
Kardinia Ward councillor Ron Nelson said the facility supported the city’s vision for the Armstrong Creek growth area to become a highly sought-after location for living, working and recreation, forming an attractive addition to Geelong.
“The quality of our new enhanced children’s centres is second to none and we’re really proud to be delivering another facility in Armstrong Creek,” Cr Nelson said.
“This will be the second early childhood and community facility to be delivered for the community with further infrastructure identified to meet the need of the ongoing growth.”
Mr Cheeseman said the government was pleased to support the development, which would play a key role in improving access to education and child services.
“Every child in this growing community deserves access to the best kinder, so they can get the best start to their education journey,” Mr Cheeseman said.
“That’s exactly what we’re delivering with a brand new kinder in the heart of Mount Duneed.”
The centre was designed by Perkins Architects, with the construction tender awarded to Fairbrother in December.
It is expected to be completed by early 2023.
