Hub could be child’s play

By Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has put child’s play on the menu as the long-awaited $7.4 million hub project moves one step closer.
After more than five-years of planning and campaigning for state and federal money, the project could get the green light in a matter of months.
At a meeting last Tuesday 28 April, the council gave the plans a final tick of approval.
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff told the meeting it was fantastic to finally see the project moving forward.
“We have had a long process of community consultation and we are now going to have a terrific children’s hub,” he said.
The idea for the multi-purpose children’s hub was born after Upwey’s Sherbrooke Childcare Centre was threatened with closure in 2004.
This followed council’s announcement that the Upwey centre and the Durham Long Day Care Centre in Kilsyth where running at a combined annual loss of $430,000.
Since then the council has been working alongside the community to come up with a viable solution to maintain early childhood education in the region.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn was one of the many parents in 2004-05 who campaigned to keep the Sherbrooke centre open.
She said the new hub would be a welcome boost for all families in the Dandenongs.
“With the help of the community we have been able to get some fantastic outcomes for early childhood education,” she said.
The project has been made possible with council cash of more than $5.3 million, the State Government’s $500,000 and $1.6 million has been allocated by the Federal Government.
The proposed hub on the corner of Mast Gully Road and Burwood Highway, will house a pre-school, 110 long day care places, occasional care, maternal and child health and family support services.
The existing public hall will also be refurbished and have a connecting wall to the hub.
Cr Cliff has assured residents that the current Upwey Hall would not be in danger of demolition as part of this project.
He said the hall would be given a new lease on life.
Cr Cliff said as part of the upgrade the end wall would be pulled down and replaced by a glass partition which would interlock with the childcare centre.
“It’s going to be great,” he said.
Council officers lodged a planning permit application last Wednesday following the meeting.