By Tyler Wright
After the kindergarten’s original building was deemed uninhabitable in the June 2021 storm event, Yarra Ranges Council has confirmed a site for Mount Dandenong Preschool students and staff will be built near Mount Dandenong Primary School.
Staff and students have been operating out of a temporary site at Olinda Primary School since their building on Mount Dandenong Tourist Road was damaged last June.
“We know it has been very hard seeing this much-loved preschool destroyed and that for many, it is a constant reminder of the trauma of the storm so to know Mt Dandenong Preschool will soon have a wonderful new home is very pleasing indeed,” Yarra Ranges Mayor Councillor Jim Child said.
Cr Child said the state government’s commitment to the redevelopment provides an opportunity to include a multipurpose community room that will enable the opportunity for the provision of maternal child health services, playgroup spaces, family support allied health and/or mental health services previously inaccessible in the Mount Dandenong and Sassafras areas.
“We want to thank the Hon. James Merlino MP, State Member for Monbulk, for this wonderful outcome for the Mt Dandenong community and for his commitment to this hugely important community hub, and also for the ongoing support from officers at the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) and Department of Education and Training (DET),” Cr Child said.
A post on James Merlino’s Facebook page published on Monday 31 October said the new kindergarten and community facility for Mount Dandenong Preschool is not an election promise, and has “already been approved, and will be delivered”.
“Olinda Primary School has stood up to temporarily care for the local children impacted by this damage. We thank them for their support over the past year and while this rebuild occurs,” the post read.
In a statement to the Star Mail on Thursday 3 November, a Yarra Ranges Council representative said the council expects a 12 month design process, followed by a 12 month construction process; a time frame which could vary once the design and construction process begins.
It is understood there will be an opportunity for the community to contribute to the design process, and the design supports the need for a single point drop off for parents.
Detail costings are set to come out of the design process, with the redevelopment expected to meet the demand of the previous preschool.
