Doreen families will have access to a range of children’s services in one convenient location thanks to a $1.2 million Brumby Government grant to help establish the Laurimar Community Activity Centre.
Visiting the proposed site for the construction of the community activity centre today as part of the Brumby Government’s Hume and Whittlesea Community Cabinet, Children and Early Childhood Minister Maxine Morand said the children’s centre would be a central part of the Laurimar Community Activity Centre family precinct.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to help Victorian families by investing significantly in early years centres which will provide parents with a comprehensive range of services,’’ Ms Morand said.
“The development of this centre will be great news for the local community which is in the midst of a baby boom.
“In the City of Whittlesea, 1905 babies were born last year, and the birth rate in the area has increased by 10 per cent over the past five years.’’
The City of Whittlesea is one of the five fastest growing municipalities in Victoria.
Ms Morand said the Laurimar Community Activity Centre will include a co-located primary school with the children’s centre. Children’s services to be offered at the centre include kindergarten, occasional care, maternal and child health, early childhood intervention services, playgroups, parenting programs and family support.
"Children’s services to be offered at the centre include kindergarten, occasional care, maternal and child health."
“Integrated facilities provide a diverse range of services that are very important in supporting the health and development of children and making access to those services more convenient for families,’’ she said.
“Whittlesea’s baby boom makes the services to be offered by the Laurimar Community Activity Centre vital to ensure families are supported through the various stages of their child’s development.’’
Ms Morand the City of Whittlesea will contribute $2.08 million and developer Delfin Lend Lease will contribute $2.5 million to the centre’s development.
“The Laurimar Community Activity Centre is a great example of strong partnerships between the Brumby Government, local government, the community and business to provide children with facilities and services to give them the best possible start in life,’’ she said.
The Brumby Government provided $1.2 million to the City of Whittlesea for the centre from its Growing Communities, Thriving Children initiative, established to provide services to Melbourne’s growth areas. This is in addition to the Government’s $38.6 million commitment to build 40 more children’s centres across the state over four years.