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CONSTRUCTION work on the new Casterton Child and Family Complex is well under way and due to be completed before the end of the year.
Twenty-two truck loads of ready-made concrete were due to have been delivered onsite yesterday to lay the foundations of the $1.9 million project. Contractor, Steplen Constructions of Mt Gambier, was delayed until yesterday to lay the foundations because of the extreme heat
Glenelg Shire Mayor Cr Karen Stephens, Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty and Member for Western Victoria David Koch were onsite last Wednesday to mark the start of construction for this much -eeded community facility.
Mr Delahunty said families in Casterton would have greater access to childcare and family services once actual construction of the $1.9 million project began.
“The complex is being funded with the support of $1.1 million in Victorian Government grants,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The Coalition is committed to increasing access to high-quality early childhood services for all Victorian children.
“The Casterton Child and Family Complex project aims to provide a much-needed purpose-built facility, with important childcare and family service options for children, families, local service providers, staff, as well as the general community,” Mr Delahunty said.
“Currently there is no long day-care provision in this district, however, once completed, this project will provide integrative, inclusive and collaborative early childhood services in something of a ‘one stop shop’ that will meet community needs.
Mr Koch said the new facility would feature:
• long day-care;
• inclusion support;
• kindergarten (15 hours per week);
• playgroup;
• outside school hours care;
• allied health and other professional consulting services;
• family support services, such a parenting and training programs;
• maternal and child health services; and
• a toy library.
The two local MPs said the government had provided $500,000 towards the total project cost through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, with a further $600,000 being provided through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program.
The remaining $800,000 to complete the project had been sourced from the Glenelg Shire Council and the Casterton Childcare Action Committee, which raised $81,000.
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