Construction on Alfredton Community Hub now underway

Construction on the Alfredton Community Hub on Donegal Drive in the City of Ballarat is now underway, with the concrete slab poured and steel framing installation underway.

The city is funding the project with $4.68 million from the Ballarat West Developer Contributions Plan and $3 million from the 2023/24 Council budget, while the State Government has contributed $2.25 million.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson and council officers were joined by Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison to inspect the beginning of the works at the site recently, with the Mayor saying it was pleasing to see the works progressing. 

“It wasn’t that long ago that this site was a vacant piece of land but already we can see how much has already happened,” he said.

“The need is there now to cater to families in Ballarat’s growing western suburbs and investment in facilities like this is crucial.”

The community facility is being constructed by Ballarat company CIQ Construction Management Pty Limited, and will accommodate a diverse range of users, foster a sense of place, and ensure kindergarten infrastructure in the area meets demand.  

Three preschool rooms will be built as part of the process, giving space to 99 children at a time, along with two community rooms, a meeting room, and associated staff facilities.

As identified in the Community Infrastructure Plan 2022-2037, the population in Ballarat’s west is forecast to grow by 73 per cent from 2021-2036, with a predicted 65 per cent increase in births in Ballarat’s west, a 157 per cent increase in families with dependent children in Cardigan, Lucas and Bunkers Hill, and a staggering 408 per cent increase in residential developments in Cardigan, Lucas and Bunkers Hill.

The project is expected to be complete in early 2024.