Pakenham kindergarten revamped and reopened

Parliamentary Secretary for Childhood Education Sonya Kilkenny and Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale MP joined Cardinia Shire Councillors, staff and community to celebrate at 27 Main St, Pakenham.

Cardinia Shire Deputy Mayor Councillor Collin Ross said the kindergarten is one of the shire’s oldest kindergartens and was in desperate need of building upgrades.

“This kindergarten, beloved by the community, was in dire need of refurbishment and thanks to the combined funding and efforts of the Victorian Government and Council, it will now continue to serve the needs of our community for many years to come,” said Cr Ross.

The refurbishment project was jointly funded with $300,000 from Council’s Capital Works Budget and a $350,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program.

Completed during 2018, the $650,000 project involved upgrading the entrance, extending the outdoor undercover area, improving the bathroom facilities to provide greater access for children of all abilities.

Cr Ross thanked the community for their patience and cooperation while being relocated during the project’s construction phase.

“Whilst it was well worth the effort and wait, we wish to thank all the families and staff for their patience and understanding whilst the upgrades were completed.

Also announced at the event was $80,000 in additional funding from the Victorian Government’s needs-based school readiness funding for Henry Family Children’s Centre and Lakeside Children’s Centre.

Cr Ross said the funding was welcome news for the kindergartens and young families in the area.

“This funding will help our local kindergartens to work with health professionals, such as speech pathologists and literacy experts, and families to support language development earlier on, before children reach primary school.”