Anglesea Community House calls for community support

The Anglesea Community House (ACH) is urging its local community to make their presence known and provide suggestions about a proposed redevelopment to its premises, proposed by the Surf Coast Shire. 

 

Part of the Anglesea Community Precinct, ACH is the only early childhood education and care (ECEC) service for Anglesea and Aireys Inlet, and is currently only offering ECEC to 14 children owing to size constraints. 

 

“We have 47 children in total rotated throughout the week, but we don’t run all day either and we have an extensive waitlist,” ACH president Beth Davidson shared with local media.  

 

As demand for workers in the area grows, not being able to find ECEC places is a deterrent for young families. 

 

ACH hopes that any redevelopment will see a dedicated administration and storage space for each activity group or user of the space, with Operations Coordinator Julie Martin telling Surf Coast Times that any changes should aim to leave tenants better off. 

 

“All we say to people is to join the conversation, because if you aren’t, you can’t influence the outcome of the proposal,” Ms Martin said.

 

“An overwhelming amount of people in the community are in support of the proposal, but we don’t want to get this feedback period wrong.”

 

The Surf Coast Shire will contribute $50,000 of its own funding to the project, which will be supplemented by a state government grant of $200,000. 

 

Chris Pike, the Shire’s general manager of placemaking and environment Chris Pike said the Shire greatly values all input it had received.

 

“ACH staff have experience in developing integrated community hubs and have provided us with important information about things like the types of spaces needed and layout requirements to meet existing and forecasted community needs.”

 

“They work closely with the community and have highlighted the significant demand for ECEC  in Anglesea – with 40 children on the waiting list and no long day care provider in the town.”

 

Mr Pike thanked the community for its valuable feedback as part of the latest stage of community engagement.  

 

“It’s been extremely helpful. We received more than 150 responses, which will be presented – along with the next steps in detail – at the February 27 council meeting.”

 

Access the original coverage of this story here.