The project will be delivered in two stages.

Stage 1 is the development of a 99-place kindergarten and two Maternal and Child Health or allied health rooms

Stage 2 is the development of the community hub

In 2020, the City and Department of Education and Training signed a Kindergarten Infrastructure and Service Plan which identified SA2-region south (including Marong) as having significant unmet demand for three and four-year-old kindergarten places (170 places by 2029). Earlier this year the State Government announced further early years reform, including the introduction of 30-hours of funded four-year-old kindergarten. This will place pressure on areas of unmet demand such as Marong. By developing a 99-place building we are future-proofing for the needs of a growing community.

The kindergarten will offer places for three and four-year-old children.

The building will also include two allied health rooms that can be used by Maternal and Child Health services or other allied health services.

A service provider is yet to be appointed.

The City and DET are working to ambitious timeframes and hope the kindergarten will be operational in 2024.

Community hubs are flexible multipurpose buildings that can be used for a range of community activities.

They are important for community wellbeing because they support people to connect with one another and service providers and participate in events and other activities.

Community hubs are a cost effective way of providing community activity spaces and services.

Community hubs:

• Are multi-purpose
• Support many different community needs and interests
• Are accessible to and inclusive of all community members
• Support ‘joined up’ service access for community members

The Marong Kindergarten and Community Hub will be a place in which the community can gather, connect, learn and play.

The draft masterplan recommends the long-term direction for this Council-owned site which includes a kindergarten, Maternal and Child Health Centre, Community Hall and other community facilities.

Each site will have an important role to play in delivering infrastructure to meet future community needs and will create a centralised intergenerational precinct where the community can gather and connect with each other.

Detailed building design will commence following community engagement.

The City of Greater Bendigo has worked with architects to develop the masterplans.

This site was chosen because the City of Greater Bendigo owns both the buildings and land.

• Marong Community Hall Committee
• Marong Neighbourhood House
• Lockwood Tennis Club

The Marong Community Hall and Neighbourhood House will be able to operate as normal during Stage 1.

At the end of the 2022/23 tennis season the City will work with the Lockwood Tennis Club to find an alternative location.

No. The City will immediately seek funding through the Department of Education and Training for the kindergarten building. The community hub development will need to be fully scoped prior to securing funding.