Works commenced today on the $7 million stage one building of the Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub in a significant step forward for the fire-devastated town.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten today turned the first sod on stage one of the hub, the town’s new primary school and early learning centre.
“We will continue to stand by communities as they recover and rebuild their homes, communities and lives following the worst natural disaster in our nation’s history,” Ms Pike said.
“We will continue to stand by communities as they recover and rebuild their homes.”
“We know that Marysville families want their children to return to school here as soon as possible and we’ve been working closely with the community to progress this important project.
“That’s why today is such a significant milestone for the Marysville community who have worked so hard to develop a new vision for their town.
“This is not just about rebuilding the school – we are building a brand new community centre which will provide spaces for social and arts activities, meetings, functions and sports and recreation.
“It will be home to the new school as well as a kindergarten and children’s centre and health centre, providing top-quality education opportunities and health services for Marysville families.”
Ms Pike said stage one would involve construction of a primary school and early learning centre and a maternal and child health consultation room. The primary school would be ready for students to move back in term two next year.
A shared foyer, administration, staff and resource areas will service both the new school and early learning centre, with all facilities under the one roof and linked to the community hub. Contract Control Services will build the first stage of the new Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub.
The $7 million stage one works on Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub forms a key part of the $193 million Rebuilding Together Plan which is a joint Commonwealth and Victorian Government package to drive recovery in communities across the state, announced by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Premier John Brumby in September.
“The Rudd Government is committed to working with the State Government and VBRRA to rebuild Marysville in the way the residents want it rebuilt,” Mr Shorten said.
“We want to make sure that the residents of Marysville have the infrastructure they need for a bright, prosperous future.
“This Learning Hub will help deliver the best education possible to the children of Marysville, as well as providing other community facilities.”
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand said the hub would form the heart of the Marysville community.
“This project is about more than rebuilding – it is about providing Marysville families with high quality facilities that they can benefit from and enjoy in their community,” Ms Morand said.
Member for Seymour Mr Ben Hardman said there are great benefits in co-locating these services close to each other.
“It will mean greater convenience for families accessing services and close integration between services, for example, having health services provided to children in the preschool and primary school,” Mr Hardman said.
The $193 million Rebuilding Together Plan allocated $5.2 million in new funding for the hub, building on $1.8 million already allocated for the primary school.